Dealing With Discomfort

AA wrote: Oh lord, could you have sent a more perfect posting? Thank you!

BB wrote: Oftast så läser jag veckans visdom på måndagen, när veckan börjar, och jag är på väg (för det mesta till Sverige). Det gör mig alltid lite klokare, mer balanserad och nyanserad till mig själv och min omvärld. 

Ett väldigt bra sätt att börja veckan helt enkelt. 

Jag ville alltså bara berätta att du och det du skriver betyder mycket för mig!

Dealing With Discomfort 

 

Instead of trying to avoid the discomfort, you open yourself completely to it. You become receptive to the painful sensation without dwelling on the story your mind has concocted.

   Pema Chödrön: Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change

We all feel discomfort now and then, be it the pain of aggression, grieving, loss, irritation, resentment, jealousy, indigestion, or physical pain. If we look closer at it, we will notice that behind the pain there is always something we’re holding on to.

The challenge in an uncomfortable situation is not to dwell on the story, not to pity ourselves or make a drama out of it. 

If we try to open ourselves completely to the discomfort itself and drop the storyline we will notice a shift. The discomfort will feel less uncomfortable.  We will be left with the irritation, physical pain or anger, but not getting all worked up about it. 

Just as all things pass, the discomfort fades away when we don’t stick to it with our thoughts. As Saint Teresa of Avila put it: “Pain is never permanent”