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Ability Quote by Diane Ackerman

“Despite not knowing if what he felt from moment to moment would pass or last forever, he entered fully into his shifting states of violent rage, self-pity, longing, heartbreak, cynicism, without losing the ability to think about what was happening to him. That took courage, I thought, living with…” quote by Diane Ackerman
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“Despite not knowing if what he felt from moment to moment would pass or last forever, he entered fully into his shifting states of violent rage, self-pity, longing, heartbreak, cynicism, without losing the ability to think about what was happening to him. That took courage, I thought, living with the suffering in a mindful way, as an artifact of being, neither good nor bad.”

Diane Ackerman

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Art of Living, 2005

The passage describes embracing intense, fluctuating emotions with mindfulness, recognizing them as neither good nor bad, which requires courage.

In simple terms: Accept feelings without judgment.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful acceptance of emotional swings.

Themes

mindfulness emotion courage

Mood

introspective calm

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • therapy sessions
  • creative writing
  • personal growth workshops
  • stress management

Key Concepts

psychological resilience nondualism self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

  • What strategies help stay present in turmoil?
  • Can labeling emotions reduce their impact?
A Different Perspective

It may be difficult to maintain nonjudgmental stance during extreme distress.

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