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Loving kindness is a form of love that truly is an…

“Loving kindness is a form of love that truly is an ability, and, as research scientists have show, it can be learned. It is the ability to take some risks with our awareness-to look at ourselves and others with kindness instead of reflexive criticism; to include in our concern those to whom we…” quote by Sharon Salzberg
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““Loving kindness is a form of love that truly is an ability, and, as research scientists have show, it can be learned. It is the ability to take some risks with our awareness-to look at ourselves and others with kindness instead of reflexive criticism; to include in our concern those to whom we normally pay no attention; to care for ourselves unconditionally instead of thinking, "I will love myself as long as I never make a mistake." It is the ability to gather our attention and really listen to others, even those we've written off as not worth our time. It is the ability to see the humanity in people we don't know and the pain in people we find difficult.””

Sharon Salzberg

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Compassionate love can be cultivated as a skill, involving risk‑taking, inclusive concern, self‑acceptance, attentive listening, and recognizing shared humanity, even toward difficult individuals.

In simple terms: Kindness is a learnable ability that expands empathy.

Key Takeaway

Practice loving‑kindness daily.

Themes

compassion mindfulness growth

Mood

calming hopeful

Type

spiritual educational

When to use this quote

  • meditation practice
  • conflict resolution
  • therapy sessions
  • education workshops

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence neuroscience psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you practice kindness toward yourself?
  • What obstacles arise when extending empathy to strangers?
A Different Perspective

Learning kindness may be challenging without supportive environments.

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