The Facts

Good Morning,

On a very basic level all of us think we should be happy. When life
becomes difficult or painful we feel that something has gone wrong.
This wouldn't be a big problem except for the fact that when we feel
somethings gone wrong we're willing to do anything to feel OK again.
Even start a fight.

Difficulty is inevitable in life. For one thing, we cannot escape the
realities of death, of aging, of illness, of not getting what we want
and even in getting what we DO want. These are simply the facts of
life. Despite your wealth or lack of it, you will experience pain
when you get cut and sorrow when lose something or someone you love.
What we must awaken to is that these are not really the things that
cause misery in our lives. What DOES cause misery is constantly
trying to get away from these facts of life. Misery comes from always
trying to avoid pain and seek happiness - from thinking that there
could be lasting security and joy available to us if we could only do
the right things.

We could all do ourselves and this planet a favor if we turn this old
habitual way of thinking upside down. The facts of life have a great
deal to teach us. When they arise in our lives we could use the
opportunity to motivate us to seek answers. Think about it, when you
are feeling bad or down is your first thought to escape the feeling -
to do something to take your mind away from the problem, or to
investigate the pain (or whatever) and focus your mind on the issue -
discover the root of what is happening and why?

We can learn a great deal when we take the latter path, we can learn
that we are usually the root of all our problems and we can also
learn that we all feel this way, we are all in same boat. This is
where real transformation can take place. As long as we're caught up
in always looking for certainty and happiness, rather than honoring
the taste, smell, and quality of exactly what's happening, as long as
we are running away from discomfort, we're going to be caught in a
cycle of disappointment and feel weaker and weaker. By seeing this
routine for what it is we develop a real strength - inner strength.

If we don't retrain our habits into this mindful attitude one moment
at a time, then we'll be very limited in helping ourselves and
anybody else. So let's start with ourselves just as we are, here and
now.

Peace and Love, Jim