“It’s hard to know whether to laugh or to cry at the human predicament. Here we are with so much wisdom and tenderness, and—without even knowing it—we cover it over to protect ourselves from insecurity. Although we have the potential to experience the freedom of a butterfly, we mysteriously prefer the small and fearful cocoon of ego.” ~Pema Chödrön
How often fear tempts us into being a smaller version of ourselves as we seek to protect ourselves, and yet what amazing freedom lies beyond that cocoon of ego when we are able to face fear without hiding away our deeper wisdom and tenderness.