I know we are all experts at arguing for our limitations. At times I have that honed to an incredibly fine art. Before I know it I am down the path of limited thinking, totally convinced I am right and forgoing the pleasure of being deliriously happy. And don’t you dare even suggest I might be wrong!

The other day I was teaching a class and a woman suggested giving up suffering was dangerous. At first I thought she was kidding but after a short conversation I realized she was really serious. We talked for a while, I made some suggestions and clearly she was very attached to suffering.  I remember making a similar agreement to a therapist I was working with before I began my spiritual journey.

Still attached to suffering?

As I was leaving I said, “I’ll see you next week” to which she replied, “I don’t think I am ready to give up suffering yet.” She wasn’t in class the next week but as luck would have it as I was driving home I stopped to pick up a hitchhiker and it was my suffering lady. The look on her face was priceless as I am sure was mine when she opened the door.

It was about a long ride so we talked. I started by asking her how she was doing with suffering. At first she looked defensive but after a few minutes she relaxed and we talked.  She explained why she believed in suffering, because it was inevitable. I shared some of my thoughts about perspective, emotional neutrality and paradigms and she got very quiet.  Then she smiled and said maybe I don’t have to suffer after all.

Change is part of life – suffering is a choice

Change is an inevitable part of life, suffering is always optional depending upon what we tell ourselves. I have had lots of conversations about Japan lately. The tsunami caused incredible devastation. If I tell one set of stories about it I have one experience. Since the world is a vast energy system I can launch a tidal wave of grief, sadness and feelings of despair. If I choose to see it differently I can launch a wave of hope, joy, love and expansion. The question is what do we want to create more of?

But how do we watch the news and not react to the stories we see? How do we talk about life to our friends? Recently Masaru Emoto sent out a prayer request for the water around the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan. After that when I thought of the tsunami I thought of that prayer and sent out an expansive energy instead of one of sadness or fear.

When you talk about anything set your intent to send out the energy of gratitude, love and expansion. If there is a news story about violence send out a prayer of love to all those impacted by those actions. When we decide to let go of suffering and decide to share love instead, our lives become truly blessed.

What is it I want more of?

We talk, we think, we react and occasional we stop to ask ourselves what we want to create more of …. deliberate intent can be a very powerful force in our lives when we choose to engage it. A wonderful practice is to consciously watch the news and send love. Consciously watch your thoughts and choose to think expansive ones. When you notice an old habitual thought that creates limitations and suffering consciously choose another one.Fully engage your deliberate intent.

Next time more on deliberate intent ….

Until next time

With love and aloha,
Susan

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