Resistance Causes Suffering
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford
There comes a point in a person’s life when they experience challenging times, counterbalanced by the inability to rise above it.
It might be an agonising experience such as the death of a loved one or the ending of a romantic relationship.
Whatever the situation, it feels close to home and strikes at the essence of human nature. Such experiences test your resolve to withstand the torrents of life.
I wish to remind you of your power to transcend any experience life presents you with. This is not intended as a passing sentiment to motivate you. Rather, to embody this understanding at the deepest level.
Reflect on an earlier time when you summoned the courage to see your way through a turbulent situation. I’m certain you were affected by the experience, as though your world fell to pieces.
With patience and willingness, you called upon your inner resources to move through the adversity. In fact, each step you take towards suffering is an invitation to move through the pain.
There are those immobilised by the sorrow of such events. They cannot navigate their way through to reclaim inner peace. Your denial to overcome an experience impedes the flow of life through you.
Remember, your power lies hidden within, ready to be summoned at your time of need. You have survived previous events, and will continue to do so, as long as you allow the experience to pass through you.
Do not retaliate against life, as doing so will create more suffering. It is your resistance to what is which that causes suffering.
1. Suffering Is Inevitable
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” — Maya Angelou
The degree to which you suffer is highlighted by your perception of it.
We all suffer at some level whether: physically, emotionally, or mentally. Every person has their cross to bear.
In his book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, author Haruki Murakami reminds us, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
He is referring to how we internalise suffering.
Reframe what it means to suffer by seeing it as an opportunity to transcend your problems.
Don’t ask for an easier life — ask to be given the resources to handle what life presents you.
2. What Is The Experience Inviting You To Become?
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller
Your soul’s agenda differs from your ego’s.
Neale Donald Walsch suggests we must live life from the soul’s agenda and not the egos.
He invites us to expand our perspective of life through our higher self. Your soul is not concerned with what you do for a living, where you live, what your credit rating is, nor your accumulated net worth.
Your soul’s agenda is grounded in your personal evolution.
What life lessons and experiences have been the theme of your life?
What is life inviting you to witness?
Is it: financial hardship, gender equality, health matters or otherwise?
Your life struggles may be your soul’s plan to help you awaken your inner power.
From this perspective, there are no accidents and everything which takes place is perfectly orchestrated by a greater intelligence.
3. Retreat If You Must
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
When you experience instability, it is natural to retreat and find the courage to bounce back with renewed enthusiasm.
What matters most is how you recover. Refuse to be defeated by your experience.
Many people fail to accept their ordeal and feel victimised, as though the event should not have happened to them.
Why not you?
To retreat in order to summon courage may be the best plan.
Withdrawing is not defeat — remaining down is.
4. Time Heals All Wounds.
“We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.” — Winston Churchill
Suspend judging the experience as good or bad. Trying to makes sense of an untoward event may bring inner peace. Often there is no explanation why things happen the way they do.
American motivational speaker and author Jim Rohn once said: “I don’t have all the answers. Life is a mystery. If you think you can design a better universe, go right ahead — be my guest.”
There is a great deal which takes place behind the scenes beyond the scope of your logical mind. Trying to fill in the blanks is a recipe fuelled with wrong intentions.
It is natural to seek answers from the death of a loved one or the dissolution of a marriage.
In time, once the veil is lifted, you may view the experience as a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Trust that when the pain has subsided, the lesson awaits you.
Originally published at Medium