A Bodhisattva Vow is a commitment made in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism to work toward the betterment of all sentient beings and to develop compassion, wisdom, and ethics. This motivational concept can provide a sense of direction and purpose for an individual, regardless of the hardships they face.

“Buddha Nature” refers to the idea that all beings have an innate capacity for enlightenment, personal growth, and positive development. The authors present Buddha Nature as a way to combat feelings of self-loathing and despair by reminding oneself of one’s potential and increasing one’s confidence and hope.

Catharsis is the theory (popularized in some forms of therapy) that expressing anger can reduce its intensity. However, the authors disagree with this view and indicate that catharsis is often ineffective and can even intensify anger by increasing arousal, which in turn can make it easier to become angry.

Cognitive intervention (also called cognitive reappraisal) involves deliberately and consciously changing anxiety or anger-provoking thoughts into more realistic and constructive thought processes. This is widely considered one of the most powerful and practical methods of controlling anxiety, fear, and emotionally charged situations.

The Dalai Lama defines compassion as a genuine interest in another’s well-being and a desire to alleviate another’s suffering, including that caused by the person himself/herself. Compassion in this context is not passive but can guide individuals to set firm boundaries and take action without hatred.

This book views forgiveness as a result of persistent patience and tolerance, and not as simply “forgiving” others for harm they caused. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what occurred, but releasing the continuing resentment that traps us in the past.

Inner discipline refers to developing the ability to train one’s mind to replace destructive patterns of thought with constructive ones, such as patience, kindness, and calmness. Inner discipline is central to achieving happiness, since one’s mood and behavior reflect the patterns of thought that one has developed over time.

Meditation is a method of training the mind to focus and reduce internal turmoil, allowing one to experience greater awareness of the clarity and knowing of the mind. Meditating should produce a calm yet alert state of being, so that one can respond, rather than react, to situations.

The book posits that patience and tolerance, which it presents as the two main antitheses of anger and hatred, reflect strength and self-control rather than weakness. Patience and tolerance provide buffers against judgment during periods of great emotional turmoil and prevent long-term damage resulting from hasty and emotionally charged reactions to conflict.

Rumination is repetitive, nonproductive thinking (usually regarding perceived threats, failures, or possible outcomes) that generates anxiety and leads to emotional exhaustion. One can disrupt rumination by determining if one can do anything about a situation and redirecting energy either to taking action or accepting the situation.

The book distinguishes between self-esteem and arrogance based on reality and consequences. Self-esteem represents grounded, adaptable, and useful confidence, while arrogance represents hyper-inflated, conflict-producing, and ultimately disappointing confidence. The authors identify honesty as a crucial factor in maintaining self-esteem and reducing fear of discovery by acknowledging and respecting limitations.