--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to make a sustained effort, again…" description: "\"We have to make a sustained effort, again and again, to cultivate the positive aspects within us.\" — Dalai Lama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/dalai-lama-89_again-and-again_we-have-to-make-a-sustained-effort-again_379349.jpg" --- # We have to make a sustained effort, again and again, to… ![“We have to make a sustained effort, again and again, to cultivate the positive aspects within us.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/dalai-lama-89_again-and-again_we-have-to-make-a-sustained-effort-again_379349.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/dalai-lama-89_again-and-again_we-have-to-make-a-sustained-effort-again_379349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/dalai-lama-89_again-and-again_we-have-to-make-a-sustained-effort-again_379349.jpg) > “We have to make a sustained effort, again and again, to cultivate the positive aspects within us.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating inner positivity requires continuous, repeated effort to nurture goodwill and compassion. **In simple terms:** Positive traits grow through regular practice. Key Takeaway Practice kindness daily. Themes compassion mindfulness self‑improvement spirituality Mood calm hopeful inspirational Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - daily meditation - volunteering - conflict resolution - parenting - team leadership Key Concepts positive psychology ethical development habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit strengthens your inner positivity? - How do you maintain compassion when faced with hostility? A Different Perspective Sustaining positivity can be challenged by external negativity and personal setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) ## Related quotes > [It is not enough simply to wish that love and compassion should increase in us. We need to make a sustained effort, again and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-not-enough-simply-to-wish-that-love-and-compassion-should/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I claim to be no more than the average person with less than average ability. I have not the shadow of a doubt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-claim-to-be-no-more-than-the-average-person-with-less-than-average/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In order to be successful inculcate the values that will aid to your effort, as well as cultivate an attitude and habit of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/in-order-to-be-successful-inculcate-the-values-that-will-aid-to-your/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [We call the effort to cultivate our ability to be in the present moment ‘practice’ or ‘meditation practice.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/we-call-the-effort-to-cultivate-our-ability-to-be-in-the-present/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [A genuine transformation that results from sustained concerted effort is long lasting because it has a firm foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/a-genuine-transformation-that-results-from-sustained-concerted-effort/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The best way to overcome undesirable or negative thoughts and feelings is to cultivate the positive ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walker-atkinson/the-best-way-to-overcome-undesirable-or-negative-thoughts-and/) [William Walker Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walker-atkinson/) > [The best way too break a negative habit is to cultivate a positive habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-way-too-break-a-negative-habit-is-to-cultivate-a-positive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We almost need to cultivate - I hate to sound New Age-y - but to cultivate a positive bias, and really work to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/we-almost-need-to-cultivate-i-hate-to-sound-new-age-y-but-to/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Long ago made it a principle of my life to cultivate a positive frame of mind, to strive to project it and to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/long-ago-made-it-a-principle-of-my-life-to-cultivate-a-positive-frame/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [“Cultivate a positive mental attitude. Your attitude influences your perceptions and your perceptions influence your decisions and your decisions influence your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-potgieter/cultivate-a-positive-mental-attitude-your-attitude-influences-your/) [Deon Potgieter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-potgieter/) > [“Hell is in us, like a seed. We need to cultivate the positive within us so we can generate the energy of understanding and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/hell-is-in-us-like-a-seed-we-need-to-cultivate-the-positive-within-us/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Construct your determination with sustained effort, controlled attention, and concentrated energy. Opportunities never come to those who wait ... they are captured by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-meyer/construct-your-determination-with-sustained-effort-controlled/) [Paul J. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-meyer/) > [Very few people are capable of sustained effort, and that's the reason why we have comparatively few outstanding successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcdonald/very-few-people-are-capable-of-sustained-effort-and-that-s-the-reason/) [Roger McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcdonald/) > [In my case it was a sustained effort. I was fortunate to have the backing of my parents to start off with and towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/in-my-case-it-was-a-sustained-effort-i-was-fortunate-to-have-the/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [“Grace is opposed to earning, not to effort. And it is well-directed, decisive, and sustained effort that is the key to the keys of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/grace-is-opposed-to-earning-not-to-effort-and-it-is-well-directed/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We can change society, change humanity by changing ourselves as individuals. 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So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Again and again quotes > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. 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