Those of you who read this newsletter know that I am a spiritual practitioner. Being a spiritual practitioner can take many forms and each of you surely follows your own source of inspiration.

But whatever form you follow, like everyone you face challenges. These challenges inevitably bring some sort of reaction, some pain.

What do you do when you suffer from some painful event? Even if nothing terrible happens, daily life itself has its moments when a decision has to be made, a difficult conversation needs to be initiated, a person you know is ill or something in your own body is hurting.

We naturally want to avoid painful moments. What are your methods for dealing with discomfort? Do you resist these moments? Do you wish they would just go away?

 Do you try to distract yourself? Do you turn to food or some other substance? Many activities can be helpful—exercising, for instance, can relieve anxiety and depression at times. Eating right can keep us more balanced.

As the Dalai Lama always says, everyone wants to avoid suffering and find happiness.

 A real key I think is to know that every moment is an opportunity to practice acceptance and to give space to the pain. What you resist persists. What you accept has a way of eventually opening into something new. What is this challenging moment trying to say to you? Listen and see if you can hear a message.

Everything that happens, all that you experience, whether pleasurable or uncomfortable, is an opportunity to learn and grow.

“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
― Seneca

 “Per aspera ad astra, Papa,’ I whispered. Through hardship to the stars.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea