Chapter 12: Serenity, Presence, and Compassion
“Serenity refers to the calmness and inner peace that come from knowing you are okay, no matter what happens to you. Presence is the energetic aliveness and attentiveness that say you’re open and available for anything that life may bring. Compassion is your ability to be moved or touched by others’ real misfortune or suffering without becoming dramatic or sentimental and without needing to find fault or blame.”
“Serenity comes from identifying, not with the push-pulls or ups and downs of your external circumstances or fluctuating emotional states, but with consciousness itself.”
“The choice to accept or resist the moment is entirely up to you.”
“The greatest gift you can give yourself and others is your free, open attention: your presence.”
“Compassion allows you to experience, accept, and love what is, even when doing so involves pain or suffering.”
Using the Ten Truth Skills
1. Give a copy of this book to at least one friend.
2. Discuss with them the idea of practicing the truth skills with each other.
3. Invite friend to start “changing the rules of the game.”
4. Trust yourself. Leap joyfully into the unknown!
Getting Real:
- Keeps your energy moving.
- Keeps relationships alive.
- Sets you free.
- Creates a shift in your identity.
- Keeps you present.
- Helps you stay with an experience to completion.
- Opens your mind up to new possibilities.
- Fosters intimacy.
- Gives you the ability to trust that you can handle unplanned or unexpected outcomes.
- Enhances creativity and creative problem solving.
- Develops your intuition.
- Speeds up evolution.