Intellectualization has a bad connotation, associated with distancing ourselves from our feelings, refusing to look at ourselves or examine ourselves in a fundamental way. However, using our intellect to understand life is actually quite good. Intellect represents the sharpest point in our experience. Sharpening our intellect brings precision. Intellect brings a direct way of seeing things as they are, so that we don’t neglect the potential in our experience. It teaches us to be aware and precise on the spot.

Chögyam Trungpa

from the book Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery

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Further quotes from the book Smile at Fear:

• We Have to Be Honest With Ourselves
• Facing yourself
• An autumn leaf
• Goodness is always there
• Bravery
• Joyful to be here
• Gentleness toward ourselves
• Facing ourselves
• We are fundamentally awake
• Cultivating mindfulness
• Becoming the breathing
• Ego finds a name for itself
• Indigestion in the mind
• The strength of fearlessness
• Be there all along
• The warrior is also an artist
• The warrior approach
• Just looking at fear
• Joining fear and uncertainty with genuine confidence