"I had a very turbulent and painful childhood, like many people. I left for college when I was 16 yea..." — 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.

We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us-vs.-them thinking - while cultivating power and clarity in response to difficult situations.

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.