The pressure to become disconnects us from our ability to love If my neighbor would turn her music down, then I could meditate. If I could lose ten pounds, then I'd get a date. If I didn't have so much trouble with anger, then I'd have more friends. If I was younger... if if if, then then then. We've become so obsessed with self-improvement that we've forgotten how to love in the here and now. And what about those things that will never change?  “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”  ― Pema Chödrön What can keep us from changing is an inability to see ourselves clearly. The truth about ourselves is far less difficult to swallow than our fear of looking. Because what do we do if we finally see and then still don't get what we want?  “Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.”  ― W.P. Kinsella If we are constantly looking for more from this person, this moment, this object, we are not seeing anything clearly. We are seeing only what we believe we are lacking. The practice of yoga and meditation is what has enabled me to see myself, with all my outdated/outmoded survival tools, and keep seeing it until I can smile at my own folly.  Just for today, practice the art of being content.