---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can have skills training in…"
description: "\"We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are using our attention to perceive something in the present moment. This perception is not so la..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png"
---

#  We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are…

![“We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are using our attention to perceive something in the present moment. This perception is not so latent by fears or projections into the future, or old habits, and then I can actually stir loving-kindness or compassion in skills training too…” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png)

> “We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are using our attention to perceive something in the present moment. This perception is not so latent by fears or projections into the future, or old habits, and then I can actually stir loving-kindness or compassion in skills training too, which can be sort of provocative, I found.”

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.

Mindfulness training helps us attend to the present without fear, allowing compassion to arise naturally.

**In simple terms:** Mindfulness lets compassion grow in the present.

Key Takeaway

Practice present‑moment attention.

Themes

mindfulness compassion attention present focus

Mood

calm hopeful

Type

practical inspirational

When to use this quote

- stress reduction
- therapy
- education
- personal growth

Key Concepts

psychology spirituality neuroscience

Questions to Reflect On

- How does present focus change your emotional response?
- What simple practice can you start today?

A Different Perspective

Compassion can be hindered by ingrained habits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-skills-4000163/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Latent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latent/) [Loving kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-kindness/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Mindfulness Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness-using-4000164/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Old habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-habits/) [Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) [Perceive Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive-present-2944853/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Projection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projection/) [Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provocative/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Skills training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills-training/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Training Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training-mindfulness-4000162/)

## Related quotes

> [“Studies of mindfulness training and the structure and function on the brain reveal, for example, that mindfulness promotes the growth of important integrative fibers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/studies-of-mindfulness-training-and-the-structure-and-function-on-the/)

[Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/)

> [“The challenge isn’t to find better tools to lead a more productive life, it’s learning to be mindful of the tools that have already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-jun/the-challenge-isn-t-to-find-better-tools-to-lead-a-more-productive/)

[Paul Jun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-jun/)

> [“We now know that happiness, resilience, and compassion are skills, susceptible to training. You don't have to resign yourself to your current level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/we-now-know-that-happiness-resilience-and-compassion-are-skills/)

[Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/)

> [“What we perceive as the present is the vivid fringe of memory tinged with anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-perceive-as-the-present-is-the-vivid-fringe-of-memory-tinged/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have seen that there are a number of people who benefit from doing loving kindness meditation, either prior to or along with mindfulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/i-have-seen-that-there-are-a-number-of-people-who-benefit-from-doing/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [It would be naive to imagine we have solved all our income security problems simply because the roles of the federal and provincial governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/it-would-be-naive-to-imagine-we-have-solved-all-our-income-security/)

[Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/)

> [I do have investments, investments in new jobs, investments in education, skill training, and the opportunities for people to get ahead and stay ahead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-have-investments-investments-in-new-jobs-investments-in/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [“damages incurred from the usage of this publication.   \* \* \* Table of Contents   1.   How to Use this Book 2.   Free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-w-murphy/damages-incurred-from-the-usage-of-this-publication-table-of-contents/)

[Peter W. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-w-murphy/)

> [My hope was that organizations would start including this range of skills in their training programs - in other words, offer an adult education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/my-hope-was-that-organizations-would-start-including-this-range-of/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [“The eyes are the most powerful social signalers that we have and hence are sometimes called 'the windows of the soul' One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-wilson/the-eyes-are-the-most-powerful-social-signalers-that-we-have-and/)

[Glen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-wilson/)

> [If we don't invest now in so-called priority neighbourhoods with music classes, athletic facilities, and skills training and mentoring, we will all pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/if-we-don-t-invest-now-in-so-called-priority-neighbourhoods-with/)

[Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/)

> [If the government can afford luxury travel for its cabinet officials, then surely we can find the resources to invest in quality education, jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/if-the-government-can-afford-luxury-travel-for-its-cabinet-officials/)

[Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/)

> [Instead of attacking and dividing our people, I'll focus on better paying jobs, career and skills training, and apprenticeships. And I'll always protect our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-beshear/instead-of-attacking-and-dividing-our-people-i-ll-focus-on-better/)

[Andy Beshear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-beshear/)

> [Skills training and industry-preparedness are the distinct advantages these students have. At the completion of their degree they have been trained to be biotechnology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-dickey/skills-training-and-industry-preparedness-are-the-distinct-advantages/)

[Lynn Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-dickey/)

> [The New Labour doctrine that skills training was the responsibility of employers was flawed. The idea that employers should take on a bigger role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/the-new-labour-doctrine-that-skills-training-was-the-responsibility/)

[David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/)

## More by Sharon Salzberg

> [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Even when we do our very best to treat those close to us with utmost respect and understanding, conflict happens. That’s life. That’s human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-when-we-do-our-very-best-to-treat-those-close-to-us-with-utmost/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Loving ourselves calls us to give up the illusion that we can control everything and focuses us on building our inner resource of resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/loving-ourselves-calls-us-to-give-up-the-illusion-that-we-can-control/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [In order to do anything about the suffering of the world we must have the strength to face it without turning away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/in-order-to-do-anything-about-the-suffering-of-the-world-we-must-have/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we believe a wounding story, our whole world is diminished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-believe-a-wounding-story-our-whole-world-is-diminished/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“The paradigm for our relationships is formed from our earliest experiences and is actually hardwired into our neurological and emotional network.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/the-paradigm-for-our-relationships-is-formed-from-our-earliest/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/vulnerability-in-the-face-of-constant-change-is-what-we-share/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Asking questions is an opportunity for creativity and personal expression, both for the person asking and the person answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/asking-questions-is-an-opportunity-for-creativity-and-personal/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Compassion isn't morose; it's something replenishing and opening; that's why it makes us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/compassion-isn-t-morose-it-s-something-replenishing-and-opening-that/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we open our hearts to the breadth of our experiences, we learn to tune into our needs, unique perceptions, thoughts &amp; feelings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-open-our-hearts-to-the-breadth-of-our-experiences-we-learn-to/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“As we explore new ways of loving and being loved by others, we need to equip ourselves with open, pliant minds; we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/as-we-explore-new-ways-of-loving-and-being-loved-by-others-we-need-to/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-in-the-midst-of-devastation-something-within-us-always-points/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“It's important to investigate the nature of anger because it is such a powerful energy and can be so destructive. When we can face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/it-s-important-to-investigate-the-nature-of-anger-because-it-is-such/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“When we contemplate the miracle of embodied life, we begin to partner with our bodies in a kinder way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-contemplate-the-miracle-of-embodied-life-we-begin-to-partner/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

[Explore all 473 Sharon Salzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

## More Attention quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/)

[Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/)

[Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/)

> [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/)

[Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/)

> [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/)

[Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/)

[Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/)

> [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/)

[Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/)

[Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are using our attention to perceive something in the present moment. This perception is not so latent by fears or projections into the future, or old habits, and then I can actually stir loving-kindness or compassion in skills training too, which can be sort of provocative, I found.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sharon Salzberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulness-so-that-we-are-using-our/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulness-so-that-we-are-using-our/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sharon-salzberg-562_attention_we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulne_460380.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We can have skills training in mindfulness so that we are using our attention to perceive something in the…” — Sharon Salzberg",
                "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": "Sharon Salzberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We can have skills training in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulness-so-that-we-are-using-our/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/we-can-have-skills-training-in-mindfulness-so-that-we-are-using-our/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
