"We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewi..." — Sharon Salzberg

I call myself a meditation teacher rather than a spiritual teacher.

I've spent quite a bit of my life as a meditation teacher and writer commending the strengths of love and compassion.

Dedicating some time to meditation is a meaningful expression of caring for yourself that can help you move through the mire of feeling unworthy of recovery. As your mind grows quieter and more spacious, you can begin to see self-defeating thought patterns for what they are, and open up to other, more positive options.

Patience doesn't mean making a pact with the devil of denial, ignoring our emotions and aspirations. It means being wholeheartedly engaged in the process that's unfolding, rather than ripping open a budding flower or demanding a caterpillar hurry up and get that chrysalis stage over with.