If you really want to solve the problem of dissatisfaction, you have to be sure of where your dissatisfaction lies. If you are dissatisfied with yourself, use it as an incentive to improve and aim higher. If your dissatisfaction is directed at other people, however, recognize that it originates from your own ego. In such cases, it is best to let go by distancing yourself from the situation, accepting it for what it is, or making peace with it. You can work on yourself, but you can’t work on others, so worrying about what to do about someone else is pointless. Complaining about things that are out of your control is a waste of energy. Instead, shift your mindset—recognize this as unnecessary effort, and guide yourself toward a lighter, more peaceful heart.
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Excerpt from The Zen Guide to Opening Your Heart: Practical Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Gensho Taigu © 2025 Tuttle Publishing.
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