“Misery is a moment of suffering allowed to become everything.” Mark Nepo from The Book of Awakening
Wow. Isn’t that the truth! Think about how laser focused you become on things that are uncomfortable, frustrating and hurtful. Sometimes we even admit to ourselves…I can’t get it out of my mind! In Mark’s words, we allow it to become everything. Why does it matter?
It matters because we are unconsciously giving away precious moments of living. If the suffering becomes everything then we are missing everything else. The everything else includes all the things that really matter. When we refuse to lift our gaze from our discomfort we unconsciously discard the things that really matter.
What matters? Well, you decide for yourself. What matters to me is a calm ease even in the middle of chaos, kindness as often as possible, staying in my center, choosing what lifts up rather than what puts down and keeping my energy moving in the direction of possibility. Falling into misery takes me away from all of this…all of what is important to me.
What matters in the broad sense is maintaining a wide view of life and remembering that we choose where we put our attention. Sometimes life is tough and the curve balls are fast. We are wise to realize that misery is an option. When it sneaks in the back door let it keep right on moving straight out the front door.
Much love always
Paula
