We Can Make Ourselves Miserable or Strong - The Effort is the Same

When something hurts in life, we usually don't think of it as our path or the source of wisdom. In fact, we think that the reason we're on the path is to get rid of this painful feeling.
("When I get to L.A, I won't feel this anymore.")
At that level of wanting to get rid of our feeling, we naively cultivate a subtle aggression against ourselves.

However, the fact is that anyone who has used the moments and days and years of his or her life to become wiser, kinder, and more at home in the world has learned from what has happened right now. We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our hearts and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment.Now, is the time. If there is any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now, not at some future time. Now is the time.

Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. In other words, if we are going to be more cheerful in the future, it's because of our aspiration and exertion to be more cheerful in the present. What we do accumulates; the future is the result of what we do right now.
When we find ourselves in a mess, we don't have to feel guilty about it. Instead, we could reflect on the fact that how we relate to this mess will be sowing the seeds of how we will relate to whatever happens next. We can make ourselves miserable, or we can make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same. Right now we are creating our state of mind for tomorrow, not to mention this afternoon, next week, next year, and all the years of our lives.

           Pema Chodron - from When Things Fall Apart (Heart Advice for difficult times)

So what have you decided to focus on in your life?.....on everything that isn't working right now and all your failures and regrets from the past?

Or do you believe that if you only had more money....you would be happier, or had the right spouse, had the perfect job or maybe if you were skinner .....you would be happier.

I call this...... destination disease.... When I am  ____________________fill in the blank,
I would be happy!

Or maybe you have decided to spend your precious mental energy on something worthwhile....like creating a brand new vision and future for yourself........ and then act on it.

We can make ourselves miserable, or we can make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same.

So are you going to shift your focus onto what is working in your life, at the present moment.........instead of what isn't working? Remember..........

The Effort is the Same!

The Future is the Result of What We Do Right Now!

 

Karin Glannstam - Personal Success Coach

www.karinglannstam.com