198 Quotes About Self-mastery

We cannot replicate other people’s lives. We must each institute and broker a personalized meaning to our exclusive existence. We must each serve as our own Zen master, awaken to our inviolate personal truth, and strive to fulfill our sui generis (unique) nature.

Most meditative practices focus on the mind and becoming aware of our thoughts. By bringing this same awareness to our emotions - and then going further by consciously engaging them and uncovering the wisdom they hold - we can gain an even greater level of self-mastery. Emotional mastery comes not just from detachment, but from also allowing our emotions to fully flow, and receiving all that they have to offer us.

We must endeavor to be whole, whether in or out of a relationship, basing happiness on our own internal resources rather than relying on someone else to full the perceived gaps in our lives.

All negative emotion originates from FEAR and all positive emotion originates from LOVE.

The fearful seek to serve themselves by mastering the world, while the fearless seek to serve the world by mastering themselves.

Patience is real self-mastery.

It is way more pleasurable to master yourself than it is to masturbate.

The modern fascination with neuroplasticity has led many to try to optimize their intelligence, memory, and concentration. People obsessively track and optimize their sleep, nutrition, and exercise regimens. But people who obsessively and directly optimize the structure of their minds for flourishing are less common."- Designing the Mind: The Principles of Psychitecture

Rejoicing in the variegated ringtones of life allows us to accept a life full of beauty, harshness, tragedy, and dark comedy without incurring any backlash of dread. Accepting our personal faults while attempting to learn and gain greater control over our primordial impulses produces self-improvement and enhances personal happiness.