Mindset Mondays with DTK – Ep #056 – Escaping is cheating.Upon first reading this quote by Thomas Carlyle, I was torn:"The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss."On the surface, the conversation would be about the things we miss out on while we are dealing with something unpleasant … the things that the suffering cheats us out of. That feels an awful lot like painting everything with a 'victim' brush.The more important conversation is about the cost of our cultural insistence on escaping discomfort and ameliorating pain – in ourselves and in others. By doing anything and everything we can to avoid any form of suffering, the tragedy is that we cheat ourselves out of the earning and growth and joy gained through the suffering. No, I am not advocating inviting unnecessary suffering. What I am advocating is starting with stillness and awareness. Especially when in emotional (or spiritual) discomfort. That's the kind of suffering we tolerate the least! Notice what's present, notice what's available. What's the message? What learning is available? What growth is waiting for you?Stick with the suffering … long enough to listen, at least.What are you cheating yourself out of?
Posted by David Taylor-Klaus on Monday, March 4, 2019
Mindset Mondays with DTK – Ep #056 – Escaping is cheating.
Upon first reading this quote by Thomas Carlyle, I was torn:
“The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss.”
On the surface, the conversation would be about the things we miss out on while we are dealing with something unpleasant … the things that the suffering cheats us out of. That feels an awful lot like painting everything with a ‘victim’ brush.
The more important conversation is about the cost of our cultural insistence on escaping discomfort and ameliorating pain – in ourselves and in others. By doing anything and everything we can to avoid any form of suffering, the tragedy is that we cheat ourselves out of the earning and growth and joy gained through the suffering. No, I am not advocating inviting unnecessary suffering. What I am advocating is starting with stillness and awareness. Especially when in emotional (or spiritual) discomfort. That’s the kind of suffering we tolerate the least! Notice what’s present, notice what’s available. What’s the message? What learning is available? What growth is waiting for you?
Stick with the suffering … long enough to listen, at least.
What are you cheating yourself out of?
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