“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.”—Pema Chödrön

I really like this quote, because it is so blunt and realistic, and in a way, so funny, as life is. Like everyone, I have my ups and down, or as a mentor used to tell me, my life has been all hills and valleys since he has known me. Well, a couple of times in the past, I have tried to shove it all under the carpet and say “yay, everything is cool”. This head-in-the-ground approach only goes so far (so far as just under the ground, actually). So let see how the head-in-the-wind approach works, instead.

What I like about this is that it relates fairly well with phase 1 of another book I recently read “Just Listen”. In that book, the author shares a process to manage crisis that goes from “Oh crap” to OK. I guess this “we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look” is exactly the level of awareness and mindfulness that allows to get past that “piece of shit” phase, and get productive.