When pain or hard times come into our lives, we usually tense up for battle, try to figure a solution and depend entirely upon our rational minds. However, there is another way to handle suffering, one which is simple, natural, and produces incredible results. This article offers a new look at suffering and a new way to respond. Exercise included.
When pain or hard times come into our lives, (whether emotionally or physically) we usually tense up to fight our problems, try to figure a solution, and depend upon our logical minds. We feel we must overpower our problems with our expertise. As soon as we feel pain or discomfort, we immediately try to stop it from happening and look for some way to soothe what we are going through. This orientation leads to increasing stress and a never ending battle with all that impinges upon us. After one problem is conquered, another often arises. There is little room for ease of mind.
We do not stop and wonder what exactly the pain is saying to us - is there a lesson to be learned? It is important to learn how to stop, listen and discover the meaning and lessons the suffering is trying to teach us.
Suffering often comes when we feel defeated or overly exhausted. The distress may be the only way we can give themselves permission to stop, rest, and make much needed changes in our lives. Rather than tense up to fight our problems, there is another way to approach them that allows natural healing energies and understanding to flow.
In order to do this, it is important to adopt a meditative state of mind. In this state of mind we are taught to stop, pay attention and respect all that comes to us. It is as if we were re-focusing a camera, receiving our experience through a different lens. As we enter a more meditative state of mind, we see that pain is not bad. It arises from lack of balance and contains much information. We see our suffering as a messenger and learn how to respect and listen to it, healing begins in all kinds of ways.
Most of the time we are reluctant to notice the quality of our lives, moment by moment. We are all experts at brushing things under the carpet. Then the carpet begins to roll up at the corners, and we feel we are coming unglued. Our suffering is demanding now that we pay attention to all that has been unattended to. Stop and listen to me, it pleads.
We now must learn to "dialogue" with our pain. Instead of tensing up and gearing for battle, we pause and look for the lesson we have to learn. When we do this we find the suffering often holds a gift in its hands. As we learn to do this, to listen and reply, an entirely new life begins.
Learning To Listen
We usually listen only to part of ourselves. The rest is rejected. But no matter what we are rejecting, soon or later we must come up against it and face it straight on. Rejecting something never makes it go away. In fact, it will come back time and again, just for you to accept it. Everything needs to be loved and accepted, including our pain. When we allow ourselves to speak to the pain, and to listen to what it has to say, incredible changes can happen.
Simply close your eyes, stop fighting, and ask what the pain is saying to you, what does it need right now? Then become very quiet and listen deeply. An answer may not come right away. Patience is needed. This attitude is called making friends with the pain. Answers come in different ways. Some hear answers within. Others see images, some have dreams. In this process you learn to be open to all that comes and in this openness, you learn. As you do this process over and over, fear diminishes and changes that are needed often take place on their own naturally. Try and see.
Healing Through Zen
When some people suffer they take drugs or go for therapy. Another way suffering can also be healed is through the practice of Zen. There are radical differences in these two approaches. This article describes the way Zen practice views and handles suffering. It offers a completely alternative way to cope with the stress and pain we go through.
The Secret to Healing Loneliness
Loneliness is one of the great sufferings of our time. Despite being constantly online and tuned in, the heart needs human warmth and contact. This article explores the true causes of loneliness and offers specific, wonderful steps to healing it, to freeling truly connected, knowing how and where you truly belong.
When Change Comes (Steps to Dealing with Uncertainty)
When change comes our usual reaction is to grab and hold onto what is familiar. We do not realize that the harder we hold, the more we crush whatever it is we have in our hands. There are other ways we can handle change which are constructive and take a great deal of pain and struggle away. This article offers specific tools and guidelines on a new way of viewing and relating to the changes we are going through.
