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This Has Been So Important For Me !!!

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Posted 9/2/2015 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Chronic conditions cause many unpleasant experiences - when I learned that suffering is optional it lifted layers of additional physical and emotional pain.

Buddha said we suffer when we want what we don't have. Pain clinics will tell you to stop fighting the pain - sounds simple eh'.

In real practice many believe if we cant walk 5 miles we might as well give up and hold a couch down. This pouty attitude of I want it this way or I am not going to try is a short path to more suffering.

If you cant walk 5 miles walk the length of the house 5 times - doing brings a sense of control and power even in small amounts.

A dog never laments that they cant fly - if they focused on it they would be miserable at the least and probably neurotic. When you cant, you explore and find what you can.

Our new mantra needs to be "Yes I Can" in my own way in my own limits...then go a bit further......go very slowly until you reach your best "Fast."

Turning inward leads to depression and the soul stealing hopelessness. Accomplishments, even tiny oneS that only need be better than yesterday crate hope that is stronger than any drug!!
Posted 9/2/2015 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Very true, as far as not beating ourselves up over what we can't do...or dwelling on it too much. Thanks for the reminder.

However, I can't say I agree that suffering is optional. Pain IS suffering, something we experience no matter how we are able to look at it intellectually.

I also find that turning inward can be a great help in coping with the pain. Not to the point of withdrawing from the world, but still - that's what meditation is all about, after all...

Debbie
Posted 9/2/2015 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
We all have pain with Fibro but I have found that if I keep living my life to the best of my ability and NOT make illness the focus, I'm much, much happier and actually the pain is pushed somewhat in the background. Just smiling and being happy for all the things I can do makes life "normal" for me.

My faith in the Lord is a huge help, too. This gives me peace.

Good thread, Andre!

Sherrine
Posted 9/4/2015 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Excellent! We need to celebrate the beauty in our lives and have an "abundance" outlook. My summer has been wonderful, even though I faced several difficult issues.

The way we approach life is EVERYTHING.

HEART
Posted 9/6/2015 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
"Suffering is Optional" is a tricky concept! My parents are practicing Buddhists, I am a non-traditional Hindu; both very similar spiritual practices that believe in the God within All and a higher God.
My parents always tell me this phrase about suffering. I pondered this recently. I concluded that pain IS but I can choose how I react to having it. I can mentally and verbally suffer or I can know I am suffering but remain as positively focused as possible; moment to moment.
This works as a mindful way to refocus my mind away from my pain which actually decreases the pain as focuses all my energy on my suffering increases it (for me).
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