Acknowledging what is, with honesty and compassion; continually training in letting thoughts go and in softening when we are hardening— these are steps on the path of awakening. It is how we develop trust in the basic openness and kindness of our being. When we train in letting go of thinking that anything — including ourselves — is either good or bad, we open our minds to practice with forgiveness and humor. And we practice opening to a compassionate space in which good/bad judgments can dissolve. We practice letting go of our idea of a "goal" and letting go of our concept of "progress," because right there, in that process of letting go, is where our hearts open and soften — over and over again.Pema Chodron
