If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger—we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be wholehearted once again.
Sharon Salzberg
To Be Wholehearted
Topic: Overcoming Adversity
If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger—we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be wholehearted once again.
Often we can achieve an even better result when we stumble yet are willing to start over, when we don’t give up after a mistake, when something doesn’t come easily but we throw ourselves into trying, when we’re not afraid to appear less than perfectly polished. By prizing heartfulness above faultlessness, we may reap more from our effort because we’re more likely to be changed by it. We learn and grow and are transformed not so much by what we do but by why and how we do it.
Sharon Salzberg, born on August 5, 1952 in New York City, is one of the world's renowned meditation teachers and authors. Her early life was marked by loss and turmoil, with her parents' divorce and the death of her father. Her mother's subsequent mental health issues forced Sharon into a series of foster homes and schools. This period of difficulty and displacement sparked her interest in the workings of the mind and the possibility of finding inner peace amidst chaos.
In 1969, Sharon attended a lecture on Buddhism at the State University New York, Buffalo, which ignited her passion for understanding and exploring human consciousness. A year later, she left for India as part of an independent study program, searching for a more comprehensive approach to alleviate human suffering. This journey led her to meet various spiritual teachers, most notably S. N. Goenka, under whose guidance she began to practice Vipassana or Insight Meditation. This would prove to be a turning point not only in her personal life but also in her impact on Western spirituality.
Following her profound experiences in India, Salzberg returned to America in 1974 and co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein. She has since authored several influential books, including "Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness" and "Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation," teaching people how to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and, most importantly, how to integrate these practices into everyday life. Despite her massive influence, Salzberg maintains a humble approach to her work, underscoring that it's not about achievement but being able to touch one's own heart and, subsequently, the hearts of others.
Salzberg, Sharon. "The Power of Intention." SharonSalzberg.com, 11 Jan. 2021, www.sharonsalzberg.com/power-of-intention. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
Sharon Salzberg
Theme: Adversity
About This Sharon Salzberg Quotation [Commentary]
Sharon Salzberg invites a shift in perspective when facing difficulties, emphasizing renewal rather than self-judgment. “If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger—we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be wholehearted once again.” Rather than dwelling on mistakes, she encourages returning to what truly matters. Growth comes not from avoiding setbacks but from how we respond—with openness and a commitment to trying again. By valuing heartfulness over faultlessness, we cultivate resilience in a way that deepens our understanding rather than focusing solely on outcomes.
Salzberg reminds us that transformation lies in “why and how we do it.” When effort is driven by wholeheartedness instead of perfectionism, the experience itself becomes meaningful. “By prizing heartfulness above faultlessness, we may reap more from our effort because we’re more likely to be changed by it.” Rather than measuring success by immediate results, she suggests that mistakes and challenges contribute to our growth. Resilience is not simply returning to where we were but evolving beyond past limitations, allowing each effort to shape us in ways we may not yet see.
Setbacks are inevitable, but they do not define us. What matters is our willingness to return—to our values, our intentions, and a compassionate view of ourselves. “We learn and grow and are transformed not so much by what we do but by why and how we do it.” Salzberg encourages kindness toward ourselves, trusting that each recommitment strengthens us. Rather than harsh self-criticism, she offers the understanding that mistakes are part of the path, and each beginning is an affirmation of our deepest intentions.
Additional Sharon Salzberg Quotations
“Learning how to start over with some compassion for yourself, instead of judging yourself so harshly—that was the point. And it’s so funny, because really, it was like Lesson 101 for me, and it’s probably the most precious thing. I use it every day.”
—Salzberg, Sharon. “The Healing Is in the Return.” Interview by Krista Tippett. On Being, 26 Oct. 2017, www.onbeing.org/programs/sharon-salzberg-the-healing-is-in-the-return. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
“The word resilience seems to imply going back—bouncing back to the precise place we were before some hardship. But that’s a little limited, isn’t it? There are also lessons learned, new strengths developed, a new sense of community…so we’re going forward.”
—Salzberg, Sharon. “Possibilities for Everyday Resilience: A Conversation with Sharon Salzberg.” Interview by Christa Tinari. Garrison Institute, 12 May 2020, www.garrisoninstitute.org/possibilities-for-everyday-resilience-a-conversation-with-sharon-salzberg. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
“We discuss how small margins, like voting or simple acts of kindness, can ripple out into the world and impact those around us.”
—Salzberg, Sharon. “Decision 2024 and the Four Immeasurables with Sharon Salzberg.” Michael O’Brien Shift, 2 Nov. 2024, www.michaelobrienshift.com/decision-2024-and-the-four-immeasurables-with-sharon-salzberg. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
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