“Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch nonfear, you are free. If I am ever in an airplane and the pilot announces that the plane is about to crash, I will practice mindful breathing. If you receive bad news, I hope you will do the same. But don’t wait for the critical moment to arrive before you start practicing to transform your fear and live mindfully. Nobody can give you fearlessness. Even if the Buddha were sitting right here next to you, he couldn’t give it to you. You have to practice and realize it yourself. If you make a habit of mindfulness practice, when difficulties arise, you will already know what to do.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh from Fear
A Vietnamese Buddhist Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh is, essentially, a living saint.
This is our third Note (so far) featuring his wisdom. The other two: Peace Is Every Step + Silence.
In this great little book, Nhat Hanh delivers his essential wisdom on how to navigate the storms of life with as much grace and poise as we can. His prose, as always, is calm, clear, and inspiring.
If you’re looking for more fearlessness/nonfear in your life, I think you’ll enjoy it. Most of my copy is underlined and marked up. It’s fantastic. (You can get a copy of the book here.)
For now, I’m excited to explore a handful of my favorite Big Ideas so let’s jump straight in!
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