One of the things I love most about Tibetan Buddhism is its deep respect for the paths of others. There’s a beautiful precept that reminds us never to speak ill of another person’s beliefs. Even if we don’t agree, if those beliefs bring them peace and center them, they deserve absolute respect. At the end of the day, what matters is building our awareness, learning to stop numbing ourselves, and understanding who we are without being our own worst enemy. ​As social animals, we have to interact... and that’s where things get beautifully complex. ​We often pride ourselves on being super straightforward, but true acceptance requires us to pause. Sometimes the other person just isn't ready to receive direct confrontation. It’s up to us to cultivate the discernment to read where someone is at, and to take full accountability for the impact of our words. ​And we will fail. We can’t know everything, and we won't always get it right. But there is so much beauty in how gracefully we fail. ​...