Last week I posted Suffering Part 1 – The Torture In Our Head . I wrote that this kind of suffering has its origin in the way we think, that we interpret things in our own way, and hurt ourselves with truths which only exist in our heads. I also talked about the magic tool of getting still, listening to the wisdom of our hearts, and then align our thoughts with this inner knowing.

Actually as children we were used to listen to our hearts first and our thoughts did not really play an important role in that game. We perceived without judging anything and stored it in our mind. But when time went on we were taught HOW we had to perceive things, persons, happenings, ourselves, our life, our future. We were taught to be this or that, behave this or that way, what is good or bad, and even what we prefer or dislike! But would have been within us already.

Over time of course we take those teachings over. We believe the more experienced people who basically teach us that way out of their own conviction and in good faith. But it is their convictions, their beliefs, and part of their paths. I have children myself and I truly know how fast it happens that you put your own beliefs into your children in order to seemingly prepare them for life. So I don’t judge anybody about that. It is not easy when you are responsible for a little person you love with all your heart.

It even makes sense that we have to store some misunderstandings in order to discover our own truth. It is interesting that we don’t take over everything we are told. We are receptive for some teachings but resistant for others. To me it is a proof that we only take what we need for our life’s path.

The things we take over but are not really fitting us will become a challenge over time. If we force ourselves to keep up something within us which actually works against us will cause dilemmas. Like I listed in part one we feel sadness, pain, fearful, torn apart, helpless, lost, ignored, dependent, punished, frustrated, depressed, physically ill,… We are suffering! And often we simply don’t know why. Because we think we do everything we are supposed to. Yes, perhaps supposed in the eyes of others but not in the way we are “constructed”.

Why do we suffer? Because (often unconsciously) we cannot agree inside with what is going on outside!
Therefore when we suffer or simply feel a tension or resistance within us it shows that there is something we need to solve. If we would not feel a tension we would not notice that something isn’t well and therefore would get stuck in our development.

Yes, of course! When I am in the midst of suffering I don’t want to hear that. Because I’d rather get stuck in feeling good. But life is not about getting stuck but about constant development. The world keeps on turning. We are influenced by the people and happenings around us right in order to not get stuck, whether we want it or not!

What’s the use now?

• Discovering new aspects of ourselves.
• Developing something new or improving something we would not have without the challenge.
• Getting insights and a higher awareness of life and ourselves.
• Walking our path the way we are supposed to in order to grow out of the old self and get ready for the next development.

In looking back we mostly understand why things happened. We comprehend the greater context and develop a belief that nothing is in vain, that everything is in perfect order, and whatever happens has the reason to create something new. We also understand that the solution always shows up when the time is ready. If we found out too early the effect of the lesson might get lost.

We have only learned something when we can feel it. It is not enough to know it in our heads. Confucius says: An insight not applied in the end wasn’t an insight. When we can feel it then it has become a part of our system. With this knowing we have gained awareness and live life with a higher awareness from that moment on. Things will change around us, develop new, lead to new connections, new situations, new circumstances which again result in new challenges. We are constantly growing. And our growing causes situations which support our growth.

Knowing about that makes us not turn away from our inner conflicts anymore but look at them and work them out. We know that we can never escape them. The sooner we face them the shorter the suffering and the faster the relief and insight.

In Love and Light!