Classroom Talk: 8/31/2003 - Part 1: We want to be free of unpleasant inner states but refuse to consciously bear the weight of them...which is a mandatory interim stage between living with the burden of self and being released from it. Part 2: All forms of stress secretly serve the nature of those thoughts responsible for its creation.

I'm so tired of pushing against life all the time. Where do I find the energy to overcome this relentless stress? It seems like I need to be empowered in order to accomplish anything in life, either for myself or my family -- otherwise there seems no choice but to be crushed by the competition. If neither my own feelings nor social and economic forces can make me feel safe and secure, where do...

There is something in us that actually enjoys feeling stressed. We must discover that we live with an opposing self. We can catch moments of opposition by coming back to ourselves.

The whole idea of learning to live with "controlled stress" is like believing that not only are you in control of a war you didn't start, but that you're on the winning side...

The real reason why nothing is ever gained by running away from our troubles is because the only thing really troubling us is our own fearful -- but mistaken -- belief that we need to run away from anything!...

Anytime you feel the pain that comes with "chewing" over a problem, what you are really feeling is pain chewing on you!...

In the still uncharted realms of mind and heart, there exist parts within every person that are drawn to seek out relationships with thoughts that are self-wrecking. For instance, we can often become transfixed by our own troubles, turning the image of some fear-producing picture over and over in our mind. And who hasn't found himself drawn into an argument where the antagonistic voice in his head is nothing...

Getting stressed and struggling to change the outcome of any past event is like arguing with an echo to make it see your point of view.