The Truth about Life

In life, we think that the point is to pass the test or
overcome the problem. The real truth is that things
don’t really get solved. They come together for a time,
then they fall back apart. Then they come together
again and fall apart again. It’s just like that.

Personal discovery and growth come from letting
there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief,
for relief, for misery, for joy.

Suffering comes from wishing thing were different.
Misery is self-inflicted, when we are expecting the 
“ideal” to overcome the “actual,” or needing things
(or people, or places) to be different for us so we can
then be happy.

Let the hard things in life break you. Let them effect you.
Let them change you. Let these hard moments inform
you. Let this pain be your teacher. The experiences of
your life are trying to tell you something about yourself.
Don’t cop out on that. Don’t run away and hide under
your covers. Lean into it.

What is the lesson in this wind? What is this storm
trying to tell you? What will you learn if you face it with
courage? With full honesty and — lean into it.

Pema Chödrön