The Purpose of Pain Life offers endless opportunities for us to experience the full spectrum of emotion. From the occurrence of a new life or perhaps a spectacular sunset, we feel anything from happiness, to wonder, to a sense of peace and fulfillment.
Unfortunately, from time to time, we also feel the hold of pain and disappointment. At times, the intensity of it can be debilitating.
It is said that time heals all wounds but that is not always the case. Time may allow the initial pain to dissipate, but the effects of it may not completely disappear. It is not uncommon for our difficult experiences to color our perception of how our lives really are. Many of us carry our pain like a cloak and allow it to become an integral part of our characters.
One can claim to be a victim of adversity and operate from that perspective. On the other hand, one can choose to extract something of value from the difficulty.
There’s always a lesson to be learned with every experience, good or bad. Keep in mind that the lesson may not provide a reason for the misfortune. The lesson may be something like incidentally discovering an attribute you never knew you possessed such as strength, or tenacity, or integrity.
When you seek the lesson, the pain is lessened.
Time is a passive solution. Reaching for understanding is an active one. How would you rather live? It really is what you make it.
“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”
- Kenji Miyazawa
Seasonal Inspiration With the change of seasons, we are reminded of the cyclical and ephemeral nature of life. Something is present, then it ceases to exist, and another thing comes about.
From a macro perspective, this may be representative of a whole lifetime. A newborn being in the “spring” of her life, an elder being in the “winter” of his. But, on a much smaller scale, seasonal changes can be likened to various periods in our lives. Within a lifetime, each of us will experience countless springs, numerous summers, many autumns, and several winters.
We freely accept the necessity of transition in nature, but we are resistant to apply the same principle to our own lives. Many of us tend to hold steadily onto the past, neglecting the possibility that something better might be up ahead.
A tree can not hold onto its flowers and leaves for fear of losing its treasure. It simply lets go of them knowing that its full beauty will be restored. The same blossoms will not return, but ones that are just as, if not more beautiful than the originals.
Everything comes full circle.
Keeping this principle in mind should allow us to accept change more readily.
Embrace it, for change is equivalent to real living. Anything less is merely existing. There is a vast difference between the two.
Welcome the seasons as they come.
“The known is a prison of past conditioning.”
- Deepak Chopra
Self-Imposed Limitations How many times does the phrase “I can’t” enter your thoughts or your conversations? Two little words which hold a tremendous amount of power.
When you tell yourself that you don’t have the ability to achieve a goal, you shortchange yourself. What separates you from the person on the next level who has achieved that goal? Is that person more dedicated, more intelligent, or more appealing than you perceive yourself to be?
We all have inherent strengths and other attributes that just need to be strengthened. A weakness remains just that only if it is not worked upon.
Perhaps sitting back and declaring those limitations provides an excuse for not bothering to try. Is it possible you tell yourself you can’t just so you don’t have to expend the energy? For others, it may be easier to negate your ability rather than admit your fear of possible failure.
Whether inaction is due to laziness or apprehension makes no real difference. The end result is the same. There is no progress.
Until you work up to the next level, you have no idea of your true capabilities. The quest to find out should be unending. When you are in touch with spirit, your potential is infinite. Every time you utter the words “I can’t”, you miss an opportunity for greater growth.
What self-imposed limitations do you hold?
“Why when God’s earth is so wide, have you fallen asleep in a prison?”
- Rumi
That Little Voice
We’ve all heard that little voice in the back of our heads. It’s our built-in navigation system that lets us know when we’re heading off-track. Unfortunately, we don’t always listen.
How many times has an opportunity been missed or an unfavorable event taken place and we immediately think, “Something told me I should have…” Having had that experience more than once, why is it that we don’t automatically heed our intuition?
Sometimes doing what our spirit requires of us takes work. It can call us to do what seems impossible and feels uncomfortable. Sometimes it goes against everything else that the outside world is saying. In short, listening to and following that voice is not always easy.
A less demanding response is to ignore the voice and take what appears to be an easier way out. We create a less than ideal situation despite our best instincts and call it a sacrifice.
Granted at times, sacrifices do have to be made. But in cases like these, the “sacrifice” is born out of fear or avoidance, and not out of necessity. Consequently, the little voice gets louder.
Take some time to listen to your true voice. It not only reflects your conscience but is also your gauge of authenticity. Is your manner of living consistent with who you are at your core?
“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.”
- Florence Scovel Shinn
Balancing Act
Our journeys can take us to some scary places. New adventures can be likened to walking on a tightrope. However, this particular tightrope tends to ascend with each step. It rarely stays level as we progress.
One problem with the tightrope is that it forces us to advance sequentially. There is no obvious way to get from point A to Z without taking most of the steps in between. We can not carelessly rush along its length and hope for the best. Our movements must be deliberate in nature.
In addition, the further we get from the starting point, the further we get from a place of solidity. And the nearer we get to the end, the further we have to fall. Even though the finishing point may be closer, we tend to feel increasing anxiety with each step because of greater potential loss.
The bottom line is that there is no real progress without some degree of risk. In many cases, the measure of the reward will be proportionate to the risk taken.
The Universe will accelerate us through some steps. But it will only rise to meet us once we move with purpose. The only guide to genuine purpose is listening closely to our spirits. Only spirit can indicate what amount of risk is acceptable.
Are you willing to risk the loss of support? Are you willing to temporarily lose the comfort of stability? What about the presence of vulnerability?
What risks are you truly willing to take for the rewards you seek?
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.”
-William Shedd