As above, so below: every creature struggles with the moments leading up to, and then in its moment of birth. So too must we who seek a conscious rebirth agree to enter into this fight.

One of the greatest awakenings in this life is to see through the painful illusion that the faster you rush through something -- anything -- the sooner you'll reach a place of peace.

There is only one reason why you ever hand yourself over to some dark, or otherwise negative state and embody its debilitating sense of self: you've forgotten that you don't have to (do that).

Just because we are able to freely justify, idealize, or otherwise deny the "in the dark" parts of us that frighten, torment, or otherwise bully us... does not mean that we are free.

It's your life, your work, and at all times you receive from life what you sow into it; if you don't like what life is giving you, learn to ask for something new.

Look where any man or woman spends most of their time -- upon what they spend it -- and, despite all protest to the contrary, you will see exactly what that person loves above all else.

Judging yourself -- or another -- for a weakness detected is how the false self deflects, and then rejects what could be a moment of saving grace... by turning it into an unconscious act of "saving face."...

The more you identify with some imagined place -- or time -- where you will at last be able to slow down and rest, the faster you rush to get there.

If people were allowed to speak only of things that are truly meaningful, a great sweet silence would engulf the world, and Spirit would announce itself to all who have awaited its living Word.

Once we realize that what makes any moment seem impassable is nothing more than our own resistance to what it asks of us -- nothing remains impossible. To the one who persists, everything eventually yields.

Here's a simple inner life exercise guaranteed to change the consciousness of anyone willing to work at it: Try to notice how much better you feel when you aren't thinking about yourself.

Guy Finley explains that there is a nature inside of us that wants nothing to do with spiritual work and inner transformation. We must consciously meet this part of ourselves that is not interested in doing what is right, and work to develop the right kind of spiritual toughness so that we can be present to ourselves in every moment, in spite of what it seems to cost.