How to Fight (Mindfulness Essentials #6)

by Thich Nhat Hanh

YOU ARE PARTLY RIGHT Sometimes we receive a large amount of praise. We do need to be praised from time to time, but we want to be careful not to become too proud because of the praise. So you say to yourself or aloud: “You are partly right.” It means: “Yes, I do have that gift but it’s not just mine; it has been handed down to me by my ancestors. And everyone has talents and gifts of some kind.” Sometimes we are criticized. We do need a certain amount of feedback in order to help us progress, but it’s important not to be caught in the criticism and become paralyzed by it. You can say the mantra to yourself or out loud, “You are partly right.” It means: “Yes, I do manifest that unfortunate characteristic sometimes, but I am much more than that. This is something that I have received from my ancestors and I am in the process of transforming it, for their sake and for mine.”