How to Love (Mindfulness Essentials, #3)

by Thich Nhat Hanh

The roots of a lasting relationship are mindfulness, deep listening and loving speech, and a strong community to support you.

A true partner or friend is one who encourages you to look deep inside yourself for the beauty and love you’ve been seeking.

True love includes a sense of responsibility and accepting the other person as she is, with all her strengths and weaknesses. If you only like the best things in a person, that is not love. You have to accept her weaknesses and bring your patience, understanding, and energy to help her transform. This kind of love brings protection and safety.

If you don’t reconcile with yourself, happiness with another person is impossible.

Understanding is the foundation of love.

To love is not to possess the other person or to consume all their attention and love. To love is to offer the other person joy and a balm for their suffering. This capacity is what we have to learn to cultivate.