Every feeling that moves inside you is born from one of two ancient roots.
One root is love — quiet, steady love for what is good, what is true, what is beautiful, or for the people and duties you care for. When this root grows strong, it becomes joy, gratitude, courage, patience, kindness.
The other root is fear — fear of losing something, fear of not getting something, fear that the world is unsafe or that you are not enough. When this root grows, it becomes anger, jealousy, worry, sadness that clings, desire that hurts.
The wise person watches his heart like a gardener watches his plants. He asks quietly: “Is this feeling watered by love… or by fear?”
Then he tends only the plant of love, and lets the fear-root wither from neglect.
That is the whole work. Not to feel nothing — but to feel what comes from the better root.
