In this book, Buddhist author Chodron encourages readers to embrace difficult, painful situations and emotions in order to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage. The author promotes the idea of turning endless suffering into continuous joy as she believes in the resilience of the human mind and spirit.

The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. A collection of talks she gave between 1987 and 1994, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties. Chödrön discusses:

· Using painful emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage
· Communicating so as to encourage others to open up rather than shut down
· Practices for reversing habitual patterns
· Methods for working with chaotic situations
· Ways for creating effective social action