I Think Of Desire As The Essence

We're So Used To Presenting Ourselves And Getting Approval According To Our Achievements That It's Difficult To Be Authentic And Trust That We'll Be Accepted Just As We Are.

The Fear Side Can Have Us Pull Away And Protect Us, But It's Really A Withdrawal, A Disassociation, A Cutting Off. Rather Than The Word Detachment, I Usually Use The Word Non-attachment. That Can Be Wholesome When We Care And Are Completely Engaged With Each Other But Are Not Attached To Things Being A Certain Way.

I Would Say Both Western Psychology And Eastern Paths Would Recognize That We Get Caught Up In Feeling Like A Separate Self And An Unworthy Self.

Underneath The Stress Is Fear, And The Biggest Is Our Own Personal Fear Of Failure.

Somewhere In My Early Twenties I Realized I Was Pretty Constantly Monitoring Myself, Judging How I Was Always Falling Short, Whether It Was About Not Being A Good Enough Daughter Or Friend, Or My Appearance, Or Whatever. I Ended Up Becoming Involved With A Spiritual Path In The Yogic Tradition, Living In An Ashram, Doing A Very Rigorous Spiritual Practice.