Finally, closing your heart to others in an attempt to avoid admitting to yourself that you, like all other humans, are capable of unskillful behavior prevents you from feeling your own emotions. Reconciliation practice is the aligning and softening of the heart to be reconciled with the present moment just as it is.

seems like an overwhelming amount of stimuli the mind rushes to interpretation to gain a sense of control. In reality, though, interpretation creates a false impression of stability. As you start to become aware of your patterns of interpretation, be kind and nonjudgmental toward yourself. It’s not helpful to fall into self-blame or self-loathing,

Consciously label these feelings as fear and wanting in your mind and then see for yourself that they originate as impersonal mind states, the way a storm forms due to weather conditions. The land that receives the storm does not own it, and the storm is certainly not the land; it’s just a storm, which because of its own characteristics can cause

Although goals make life exciting, intention provides you with self-respect and peace of mind.

By being mindful of your intention to do the right thing and then actually doing it, you directly connect with the happiness of blamelessness that the Buddha talked about. Each time you become aware of how harmonious it feels to be blameless, it increases the likelihood that you will choose to do the right thing in future moments.

The Happiness of Being Blameless Whenever you do the right thing, your mind is clear and contented even though it may be conflicted.

But goals have definite limitations.

your values define the essence of who you are even more than your capacities. Your values help determine what you notice in each moment of the day, which combination of your capacities you will use to respond to any situation, and how you will choose one response over another.

want to say and how to act. This is how you empower yourself to live a truly authentic life.