Finding Joy Through Pain

Recently, I came across something written by the philosopher/writer, Kahlil Gibran, regarding the contrast between joy and sorrow. Here's what he had to say:

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow, that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.  

And so it seems that, in order to truly appreciate joy, one must first experience the contrast: pain and sorrow. I thought about this for awhile, and realized that, it's true. If your life is constantly filled with happy things and there are few disappointments, you can't really feel contentment and the relief of knowing all is well with your soul. It's interesting to note that within  every person, there is the capacity to rejoice and to mourn. These actions come from the same place -- the seat of our emotions -- the heart. 

Perhaps it seems cruel to suggest that a certain amount of pain is necessary for one to fully grow into the person that they are destined to become, but I have to say that those that I find the most real, the most credible people that I know, have experienced tragedy and lived to tell the tale. These are the ones who know how to laugh and to love in spite of all adversity, and who truly appreciate the relief of joyous times, however random and infrequent they might be. We would all love to have things go our way and to find happiness at every turn, but in reality, this is not the best path for us. This is not what will build our character or draw us outside ourselves and into a relationship with our Creator and our fellow human beings. It is only in the loss of our desires, and in the pain that we experience being deprived of those things, that we develop an appreciation for how beautiful life truly is, and what a gift each day brings.

Saying Goodbye to "Stuff"

For the past several weeks, I've done alot of thinking about all the "stuff" that takes up space in my home. I'm talking about everything from furniture, clothing, books, cds, papers, kitchen gadgets, you name it! Even though not currently in my plans, it would be difficult for me to move into a smaller home, or to move anywhere for that matter. I would have to get rid of lots of stuff, some of which would be hard for me to part with. While there may be several obstacles to downsizing one's stuff, I'd like to share with you one major key to my own struggle with this issue.

If you examined some of my stuff, you might not think it worth much. Then again, sentimental attachment is in the heart of the beholder. That old ticket stub from a concert years ago, that coffee mug purchased on vacation, that dress worn on a wedding anniversary. None of these things have much monetary value. Rather, it's the emotional hold that makes me hesitate to get rid of them without a fight. That's when I have to stop and think about their true meaning in my life. Then I discover it's what I associate with them that I really treasure -- not so much the things themselves. And one's memories can never be sold, traded, or stolen.

So, gradually, I am learning to let go of things. I am whittling my wardrobe down to the bare essentials, those articles of clothing that I really like, the ones that look good on me and fit me well, the ones that match my lifestyle these days. I plan on donating anything that doesn't meet my new requirements, because surely someone will be able to use what I can no longer justify occupying my closet. I get excited thinking about all the space I will create by doing this, but even more importantly, how I will be helping someone else in the process.

Next on the agenda is my huge collection of books and cd's. I have always loved to read and listen to music, and the shelves in my living room (as well as other places in the house) reflect years of enjoying both activities. The problem is, there wouldn't be enough hours in the day to devote to all the books and cd's that I own! Then, too, there is the constant dusting and organizing necessary to keep them in good shape. Once again, when I mindfully reflect on reducing the size of my collection, I think about giving to others. Donating these items to the local library, which I use regularly, gives others the chance to enjoy books and music that they might not have access to otherwise. In fact, if I desire to listen to that cd again or reread that book -- all I have to do is go to the library and check it out! It's a win-win situation, as far as I can tell.

All this is just the beginning of a new way of looking at the stuff in my own life. I constantly remind myself I am not the sum total of the stuff I own, and I never want it to own me! In fact, instead of taking the time to worry about my stuff, protect it, maintain it, and store it -- I'd rather spend my days enjoying the people I love, doing meaningful work, and celebrating the blessings I have in health, faith, and beauty all around me. How about you? Are you ready to say "goodbye" to your stuff for the sake of finding out what's really important in life?

The "F" Word (Forgiveness)

Forgiveness... When you think of that word, what comes to mind? Do you break into a cold sweat at the mere thought of it? Do you see yourself as the one doing the forgiving, or are you more comfortable on the receiving end? We live in a broken world badly in need of mercy and grace. Forgiveness is one of the roads to becoming a more compassionate person; in fact, it is a major artery to the path of lovingkindness. Without forgiveness, there can be no true connection between us, no real sense of communication. Every day, in every way, we must practice forgiveness in order to co-exist with others and to become all that we were created to be.

Have you ever met a bitter, angry person who insists that he or she will never forgive someone for what they have done? I've come across a few in my lifetime, and I can safely say that I don't envy those persons. Bitterness is like a cancer of the soul, growing and festering underneath the surface of a person's character. It too often rages out of control, poisoning relationships and preventing any sense of joy in life. Unlike cancer, however, there is a cure. It is in forgiveness that such toxic emotion is dissolved and a person is restored.

How does one go from being bitter to forgiving, especially when everything seems to point to an understandable reason for such hostile feelings? Indeed, the effort required in many cases seems supernatural. It is only in the realization that we ourselves have been forgiven many times over that we can apply this same grace to others. When we begin to see others as fallible people like ourselves, then we can patiently look beyond their faults and refuse to become wounded by them. We can stop taking things personally and start seeing the actions of others for what they are -- responses from imperfect people who oftentimes don't even think about what they are doing or the effects their actions will have.

I once read about a famous author who lived with her sister for a time in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. She and her sister were tortured, deprived of food and medical help, and treated as if less than human. Ultimately, she witnessed the death of her sister at the hands of a particular prison guard. Years later, after she herself survived the camp and was rescued, she encountered the prison guard at a book signing. He extended his hand to her, but she could not find it within her to reciprocate in any such act of goodwill. It was only through the grace from above that she was able to reach out and shake this man's hand, and in doing so, make forgiveness the reality that set her free to experience peace in the midst of her painful memories.

Hopefully, up to this point, you've been able to see the value of forgiving others so that you improve your own dealings with those who are important in your life. But what about forgiving yourself? Why does this seem to be such a hard thing? We are our own worst critics, oftentimes harder on ourselves than we are on others. Feelings of guilt and shame sometimes prevent us from giving ourselves permission to be less than perfect, but the truth is that we don't always do things right. Instead of beating ourselves up for what we didn't do, we need to accept our failures, forgive ourselves, and move on.

A few years ago, we had to euthanize our beloved cat. She had been a wonderful part of our family for eight years, and her absence is still felt to this day. I was her primary caretaker and considered myself responsible for her well-being. When she got sick and was obviously suffering, I tried all I could to make her better. I took her to the vet, but the news was not good. She would probably not make it, and I began to blame myself for not taking good enough care of her. It was during the holidays, and I was busy with family plans, not paying much attention to our pet. I felt that it was my fault that she had taken ill. After all, she depended on me to see to it that she was given a healthy life, and I was too distracted by celebrating with friends and family to do a good job taking care of her. When she had to be put down, I felt like it was me who was accountable. I couldn't forgive myself for a long time, and so, I suffered as well. It was not until I finally heard what the vet and several of my close friends said to me that I began to forgive myself. They told me that it was not my fault. Things happen. Over time, I could see the wisdom of that, and quit seeing myself as my cat's executioner.

Just think of how different the world would be if everyone could get forgiveness, give forgiveness, and appreciate the love and mercy that comes in putting that into practice. This "F" word is one that everyone ought to make a permanent part of his or her vocabulary, and of which to develop a daily habit. If that happens, I can assure you that your relationships with others -- and your inner peace -- will be greatly changed for the better.

Letting Go Isn't the End of the World

I recently read a quote that caused me to stop in my tracks. It was about letting go, and this is what it said:

"There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world; it's the beginning of life."

I was struck by the positivism of this statement, and I suddenly felt more hopeful than I had in months. I saw that I needn't put myself down for feeling the desire to move on, having outgrown my need to hold on to people and events in order to feel justified. It was okay to let go. It was good to be courageous enough to continue on without people who matter to me, if necessary, in order for personal growth to take place. Suddenly, I had permission, a new freedom that made all the difference in the life I was living.

Letting go isn't the end of the world. I have to admit that sometimes it feels like the end of the world and way too painful. There's that parent who let you down, that addicted loved one, that friend who hurt you in ways that make forgiveness seem impossible. When you love someone and you suddenly realize that you have absolutely no control over their actions or decisions, you can do one of two things. You can either use persuasion, compromise, guilt trips, or downright pleading to change their mind -- or you can let go of all attempts to control. "It's the beginning of life."  Life for who? For you, the one who has decided to let go. And what will that life be like? Will it be empty now that the loved one has been set free to live a life of their own choosing? Will the focus now shift to your own needs, perhaps for the first time in a great while? Admitting your own powerlessness and letting go of someone else can liberate you to begin life anew. And it's not so much dismissing that person; it's more about the letting go of the need to control the outcome of your relationship.

We are not in control of everything that comes our way. But we do have some say over how we want to relate to others in our life. Still, holding on tightly to someone isn't the answer, for that person may feel the need to slip between your fingers, and then you find you're left holding nothing. You must let go and give others the freedom to make mistakes, run away, and perhaps even return. And while all this is happening, try to mindfully consider the valuable lesson being offered to you. You may turn bitter from regret and the sadness of feeling rejected by your loved one, or you may take this experience and use it to develop greater character within yourself. You can make that decision, and what you choose will indeed impact your self-esteem and your very outlook on life itself. To let go isn't to cease caring; it is to allow for things to take their natural course and to wait for perhaps a time when peace can reign once again.

Comfort in the Face of Grief

Just recently, some people very close to me have experienced things that can only be described as painful and tragic. While we all face various difficulties in life, we're limited by what we have personally gone through. Even though we mean well, we aren't equipped to say things like, "I know just how you feel." We don't, in fact, know exactly how the other person feels. So what can we do to bring comfort to the one who is grieving?

We all go through essentially the same process when we grieve, but the way we manifest our emotions and the amount of time that we need to move from one stage to the next varies among individuals. And our grief can cause us to behave in strange ways. For example, when my mother passed away several years ago, I did something that I had never done before nor since that time. It was a cold but sunny December morning when I heard the news that she had passed on. I was in shock and disbelief, trying to still go about the business of the day. I remember going into our big walk-in closet to put some clothes away and suddenly I just collapsed on the floor in tears. My body up against the door, I sat in the darkness and cried for who knows how long. Eventually, my husband called to me from outside the closet. He asked if there was anything he could do to help me. I said no, I just needed some time alone... to grieve in the dark by myself. After awhile, I got up and left. Somehow, I was better after that. And I was grateful that my husband hadn't tried to coax me out of the closet. He was just there, asking me if I needed anything, not judging me for doing something really out of the ordinary for me.

Sometimes it's enough just to BE with someone in their sorrow, not trying to fix anything or analyze their feelings. Not probing, not judging, just being there for when they're ready to reach out and begin living again. Love expresses itself most beautifully in this way, when someone is unafraid to stand beside another who has experienced grief and loss. We may feel uncomfortable and helpless, but if we focus on the other person and not our own inadequacies, we'll usually find that they will lead the way in what they need.

Life in the Slow Lane

Everywhere you go these days, people seem to be in a big hurry. Take a look at traffic, for example. "Rush Hour" used to happen from around 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Nowadays, the pattern continues all day, seven days a week. Drivers often become angry with those trying to keep the speed limit, as if their need to get somewhere fast should be a justification for breaking the law. Road rage frequently occurs because of impatience, selfishness, and a growing need to go faster and get there quicker than other motorists on the highway. In spite of all this rushing around, it's interesting to note that most who do so may trim only seconds from their arrival time, at the risk of accidents and increased stress levels.

It's not only driving that we tend to do in a hurried fashion. Look at our eating habits. The term "fast food" has defined how some of us tend to fuel our bodies, gobbling down whatever we can grab from a restaurant window in the comfort of our car. And then we continue on our way to wherever we're going, not taking the time to sit down at a table and give our food the attention it deserves. Eating at home is oftentimes not much better. With everyone's busy schedules, it's difficult to plan a meal that an entire family can sit down and enjoy together. One might find family members eating in shifts, and unfortunately, the evening meal might consist of carry out food, since nobody had time to cook. It's no wonder that we are becoming a nation of obesity, eating disorders, and alienation from others.

I know that I have probably painted a pretty grim picture of how life is for many, but there is a solution for those willing to try to do things differently. We must simply slow down. Instead of racing around town to get somewhere, leave earlier and allow yourself enough time to accommodate traffic slowdowns and unforeseen circumstances. Trust me, you will arrive in a better mood, if nothing else. When you decide to have a meal, take time to sit down at the table and focus on nothing else but the food in front of you. In other words, don't eat in your car, don't try to talk on the phone or read the newspaper while you are eating. Just enjoy your food and savor every bite. If possible, prepare something simple and fresh, rather than eating high fat, high calorie "fast food". I've found that a little weekly meal planning and some advanced preparation goes a long way toward having nutritious food on the table. You and all your family will benefit from this. Speaking of family, try to make it a top priority for everyone to meet for dinner at least three times a week. Turn off the cell phones and television and just talk, eat, and enjoy each other. Soon, you'll find that everyone will be looking forward to the family meal and relationships will improve.

These are but a few ideas for slowing down, but even if you only implement these, you will undoubtedly notice a change in how you feel both physically and mentally. Your stress level will decrease even more if you can find other ways of mindfully changing your pace. Take a tip from lyrics to a popular song heard on the airwaves years ago, but relevant to what I'm saying here: "Life in the fast lane will surely make you lose your mind." Consequently, life in the SLOW lane will surely help you to retain it!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

I used to view change as being either good or bad, but now I'm not so quick to judge its merits or flaws. In fact, change is difficult to define in a universal way, since we each experience it uniquely. For some it's a thing to be dreaded; for others, change is liberating and refreshing. Whatever the case, it’s inevitable. We can’t avoid change if we are to continue living. Life, by its very nature, is not static, but constantly evolving, transforming, becoming. I once read somewhere that the only place where things remain the same is the graveyard. And, frankly, nobody wants to live in a graveyard.

So what makes change so daunting to some of us? Why do we hang on to the familiar and shun the unknown? Sure, we can become creatures of habit, but at what price? Trading our personal growth for the comfort of the status quo can be costly. We've been given but one life here on earth, and that requires daily courage if we're to be the best we can be. Sometimes, it's easier to take baby steps toward positive change in our lives, but that's okay. You'll still be moving forward, and that's what counts. Even if changes going on in your life in particular -- and the world in general -- leave you feeling helpless, you aren't really. You can always choose how to respond to, and ultimately how you will accommodate, these shifts in events as they apply to your situation.

I mentioned earlier that there are some who welcome change, even when it brings discomfort and pain. We can't guarantee that our lives will always be smooth, after all. Changes that lead to self-actualization are more about what we learn along the way and how we apply it than they are about reasons for their occurrence. Some of the wisest, most well-seasoned individuals I've met seem to have a "go with the flow" attitude when it comes to change. Perhaps they have learned which battles are worth fighting and which are not. Perhaps they've discovered how to incorporate change as an antidote to a stagnant life. Either way, I have great admiration for such a way of living.

Much of living mindfully is thinking about how you view change in your own life, and making space to accept changes, knowing that there are many things you can't control. So, take a neutral attitude toward change, expecting it, anticipating it, and don't be a bit surprised when it presents itself. If you're flexible, you'll find that changes in your life cannot break down your spirit nor force you to shrink back on meeting everyday challenges.