I have surely been learning this very thing the past year.
We can learn to recognize that the difficulty is our path instead of trying to escape from it. This is a radical yet necessary change in our perspective. When uncomfortable things happen to us, we rarely want to have anything to do with them. We might respond with the belief ‘Things shouldn’t be this way’ or ‘Life shouldn’t be so messy.’ Who says? Who says that life shouldn’t be a mess? When life is not fitting our expectations of how it’s supposed to be, we usually try to change it to fit our expectations. But the key to practice is not to try to change our life but to change our relationship to our expectations — to learn to see whatever is happening as our path.
Ezra Bayda, Being Zen
photo philip halling
Elusive Trope said:
to let go of the “what ifs” and the “what could / should have beens” is one those easier said than done endeavors, but so critical to finding serenity. Regret, bitterness, and envy of others’ good fortune (or what we perceive as their good fortune) are just toxins in our soul.
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calensariel said:
As is unforgiveness…
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Middle Aged Rager said:
Great photo and useful thoughts!
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calensariel said:
I like most of the stuff he posts.
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Soul Gifts said:
Great photo – illustrates your post beautifully 🙂
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calensariel said:
Can’t take the credit for that. Mr. Duffy chose it. 🙂
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badfish said:
Well, I truly like it when life is easy and not messy. Sometimes I like a mess, and then I like getting out of a mess.
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calensariel said:
Funny… I would have thought you were the sort of chap who was ALWAYS up for a mess! 😀
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badfish said:
Right…but we have to clarify the word “mess.” There are just some messes, nobody is up for. But a good old time rip-roaring mess, well, yeah…bring it on.
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calensariel said:
Oh yes! I forgot you’re a cowboy! Do you still have your great hat? 🙂
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