SUFFERING PARADOX

Written By Duane Nelson


2 IDEAS FROM ME

  • The more we try to avoid suffering, the more we suffer. The more we embrace suffering as a growth opportunity and use our signature strengths in alignment with our highest values, the more peace, insight, and freedom we experience.

  • PEACE is a powerful practice for learning how to suffer well.

    • P - PAUSE and name the experience to create space between you and the emotion. You are noticing it, not drowning in it.

    • E - EMBRACE the opportunity. Resistance amplifies suffering. Acceptance lowers the intensity.

    • A - Focus your AWARENESS on the sensation in your body with curiosity. Meeting pain directly often makes it shrink instead of grow.

    • C - CLARIFY what’s in your control with the wisdom of uncertainty, imperfection, and impermanence.

    • E - ENGAGE signature strengths in alignment with your highest values.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

  • “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”—Epictetus

  • “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” — Khalil Gibran

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

  • What is your surfing to suffering ratio? This is percentage of times you chose to surf the suffering as a growth opportunity using your signature strengths in alignment with your highest values instead of drown in it.

Namaste,

Duane Nelson

Duane Nelson

Ultrajourney Insight is an Anacortes Washington-based non-profit organization providing mindfulness & well-being services designed to ignite the adventure of a lifetime. The founder, Duane Nelson, is a writer, speaker, and teacher with four decades of parenting, wilderness, & international technology leadership. His professional insights come from chemical engineering and automation leadership at Philips, Intel, and Amazon. His adventure insights flow from ultramarathons, mountaineering, canyoneering, and adventure racing in Nepal, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Mexico, British Columbia and Alberta.

https://ultrajourneyinsight.org
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