--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Initially, the positive emotions derived…" description: "\"“Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating our higher natures may be weak, but we can enhance them through constant familiarity, making..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg" --- # Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating… ![“Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating our higher natures may be weak, but we can enhance them through constant familiarity, making our experiences of happiness and inner contentment far more powerful than a life abandoned to purely impulsive emotions.” quote by Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg) > ““Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating our higher natures may be weak, but we can enhance them through constant familiarity, making our experiences of happiness and inner contentment far more powerful than a life abandoned to purely impulsive emotions.”” [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating refined, positive emotions strengthens happiness more than impulsive feelings. **In simple terms:** Developing higher emotions makes lasting happiness. Key Takeaway Practice refined emotions for deeper joy. Themes happiness inner peace self‑development Mood calm hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - daily reflection - relationships - stress management Key Concepts mindfulness emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate refined emotions daily? - What practices nurture inner contentment? A Different Perspective Impulsive emotions can still provide short‑term pleasure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cultivating Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivating-higher-2054170/) [Emotions Derived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-derived-5370191/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-inner-289798/) [Inner Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-contentment-1395192/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Positive emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-emotions/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever we focus our attention on will expand in our experience. If we focus on cultivating the higher qualities of love, compassion, joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/whatever-we-focus-our-attention-on-will-expand-in-our-experience-if/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [From the psychological point of view, the self-asserting emotions, derived from emergency reactions, involve a narrowing of consciousness; the participatory emotions an expansion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/from-the-psychological-point-of-view-the-self-asserting-emotions/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“the ability to maintain positive states or positive emotions would directly impact one’s ability to experience happiness. These two great spiritual leaders were saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/the-ability-to-maintain-positive-states-or-positive-emotions-would/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [In order to be happy we must first possess inner contentment; and inner contentment doesn't come from having all we want; but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-order-to-be-happy-we-must-first-possess-inner-contentment-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Smiling is a state of inner contentment. So smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/smiling-is-a-state-of-inner-contentment-so-smile/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [The main thing for inner contentment is to be in a state of grace. And there is an artistic state of grace, for art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-rodenbach/the-main-thing-for-inner-contentment-is-to-be-in-a-state-of-grace-and/) [Georges Rodenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-rodenbach/) > [There is a part of you that is Love itself, and that is what we must fall into. It is already there. Once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/there-is-a-part-of-you-that-is-love-itself-and-that-is-what-we-must/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/people-universally-tend-to-think-that-happiness-is-a-stroke-of-luck/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Inner contentment liberates the soul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-kwatra/inner-contentment-liberates-the-soul/) [Mukesh Kwatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-kwatra/) > [“Give yourself up to this moment. Dare to see it. Now look down at your feet; slip out of those invisible tethers. Then ask:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-downie/give-yourself-up-to-this-moment-dare-to-see-it-now-look-down-at-your/) [Chris Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-downie/) > [Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Whatever the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/those-who-dwell-as-scientists-or-laymen-among-the-beauties-and-2/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [The more we genuinely care about others the greater our own happiness & inner peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-lokos/the-more-we-genuinely-care-about-others-the-greater-our-own-happiness/) [Allan Lokos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-lokos/) > [“Happiness is the inner poetry of women, just as fine clothes are the mask of beauty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/happiness-is-the-inner-poetry-of-women-just-as-fine-clothes-are-the/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“Is there a difference between happiness and inner peace? Yes. Happiness depends on conditions being perceived as positive; inner peace does not. Is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/is-there-a-difference-between-happiness-and-inner-peace-yes-happiness/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you feel happiness it is always from the inner. Then mind immediately jumps in and takes control and says, 'It is because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/whenever-you-feel-happiness-it-is-always-from-the-inner-then-mind/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Dalai Lama XIV > [This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/this-is-my-simple-religion-no-need-for-temples-no-need-for/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Transforming the mind involves first learning to know it, then identifying how it functions so as to eliminate the three main mental poisons, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/transforming-the-mind-involves-first-learning-to-know-it-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“our ability to reframe our situation more positively”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/our-ability-to-reframe-our-situation-more-positively/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“The fourth and final circuit is “our ability to be generous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/the-fourth-and-final-circuit-is-our-ability-to-be-generous/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“In general, if we carefully examine any given situation in a very unbiased and honest way, we will realize that to a large extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/in-general-if-we-carefully-examine-any-given-situation-in-a-very/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“No matter what activity or practice we are pursuing, there isn't anything that isn't made easier through constant familiarity and training. Through training, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/no-matter-what-activity-or-practice-we-are-pursuing-there-isn-t/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Live so when your children think of fairness and integrity they think of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/live-so-when-your-children-think-of-fairness-and-integrity-they-think/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is important to consider others at least as important as ourselves. This is the essence of spirituality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-important-to-consider-others-at-least-as-important-as-ourselves/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“I maintain that Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism all hold up love as an ideal, seek to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/i-maintain-that-buddhism-christianity-confucianism-hinduism-islam/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Marriages, even the best ones—perhaps especially the best ones—are an ongoing process of spoken and unspoken forgiveness. •”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/marriages-even-the-best-ones-perhaps-especially-the-best-ones-are-an/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“You see, if there are no difficulties and you are always relaxed, then you complain more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/you-see-if-there-are-no-difficulties-and-you-are-always-relaxed-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-not-happiness-that-makes-us-grateful-it-is-gratefulness-that/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Joy can span from the pleasure of others’ good fortune, what Buddhists call mudita, to the pleasure in others’ misfortune, what the Germans call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/joy-can-span-from-the-pleasure-of-others-good-fortune-what-buddhists/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/if-you-think-only-of-yourself-if-you-forget-the-rights-and-well-being/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It seems that scientific research reaches deeper and deeper. But it also seems that more and more people, at least scientists, are beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-seems-that-scientific-research-reaches-deeper-and-deeper-but-it/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) [Explore all 206 Dalai Lama XIV quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating our higher natures may be weak, but we can enhance them through constant familiarity, making our experiences of happiness and inner contentment far more powerful than a life abandoned to purely impulsive emotions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dalai Lama XIV" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/initially-the-positive-emotions-derived-from-cultivating-our-higher/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/initially-the-positive-emotions-derived-from-cultivating-our-higher/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_happiness_initially-the-positive-emotions-derived_1476261.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Initially, the positive emotions derived from cultivating our higher natures may be weak, but we can enhance…” — Dalai Lama XIV", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dalai Lama XIV", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Initially, the positive emotions derived from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/initially-the-positive-emotions-derived-from-cultivating-our-higher/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/initially-the-positive-emotions-derived-from-cultivating-our-higher/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```