In my last posts, I’ve talked a great deal about finding peace and calm within the tempests of life. However, I’ve failed to mention suffering and its utility. Life cannot always be calm, happy, and smooth. If we seek that sort of life, we may get it. But we’ll discover that it’s a muted form of living. The colors of life begin to fade. It’s a dull form of living prompted by our avoidance of extremes and negatives.
I hypothesize that suffering is an inherent and important part of life. Suffering gives us grit to get through the hardest times. It teaches us how to be brave when we need to fight for things that are worth fighting for. There is also healing in suffering. It takes us through the most harrowing depths of our psyche so that we may confront our fears and traumas face to face unflinchingly. If we make room for suffering, we allow ourselves to feel all the pain and torment. By choosing this, we become present to the experiences that plagued us from our past. By suffering now, we can relieve that fear and pain.
Suffering liberates all of our emotions. We can live a more purposeful life directed by our values no matter the circumstance. It gives us the solace of being okay with failing as long as we try out best and do things the right way. Suffering opens the door to spiritual, mental, and emotional mastery. It brings us closer to experiencing life in its fullest form. There is no true happiness, no true excitement, no true joy, no true courage without facing pain, hurt, and failure. Each color in the palette of experience is necessary.
I’ve often asked myself and God. Why is there so much suffering in the world? I never could understand it. Now I know that suffering is essential. Suffering as a teacher builds grit and opens the door to deeper happiness, deeper experiences, and self mastery. Fear and doubt vanish when we are willing to brave the darkest, most difficult moments imaginable.
Do things the right way. Be willing to suffer. Don’t be afraid of pain, it will bring liberation. By avoiding suffering and pain, we only prolong them.
I do not ask for an easy life. I do not ask for a peaceful life. I ask for my lessons to continue. I ask for hardships when necessary so they may help me grow. May you be willing to suffer and live life to the fullest.