Our life is a life of suffering (and many, many wonders)

Some people understand, some other don’t (yet).

Learning more and more about personal lives of people from all different cultures from all over the world actually show me everybody is suffering in his or her life. We only think other people are much more happy than we are. But in practice the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence till you get there. Soon you will realize it’s all an outside show, hiding their personal unhappiness in live even with a smile.

Even people who think and tell this is not the truth will discover it is the truth when they are getting older reaching the last rest.

Our life is a life of mental and – for sure when you are getting older - physical suffering. This is even mentioned as the first of the so called “Four Noble Truths” in Buddhism.

The question is; “How do you deal with this suffering?”.

Lots of people focus their attention on themselves, on their not easy lives. Have pity with themselves, complain about everything, seek attention for their ‘problems’ in life, and toxify themselves and their environment. They only see the suffering in life. But suffering is not the true nature of the universe. There is so much more.

We need to find the cause. That can make us free from our suffering.

Suffering is the result of the way we live and of our erroneous understanding of life. Of our ignorance. A false way of looking at reality.

We take life for granted, run life, strive for more, and marketing helps us to create more and more desires. Not our desires but our clinging to our desires causes a lot of our suffering. Thinking the impermanent is permanent for instance, is ignorance. And from ignorance is born greed, anger, fear, jealousy, and countless other sufferings.

We focus on our suffering. Think we are victim but actually we create being a victim.

This is not only a life of suffering. This is also a life of many, many wonders. But when you are disconnected with life you do not see the wonders that are available for you on a daily base. And when you do not see them, you do not live them. You stay with a dream instead of living your dream.

When I was still living in The Netherlands - as a ‘stretcher bearer’ and helper – I several times joint a pilgrimage to Lourdes (The Pyrenees, France / Europe) with a group of most elderly and disabled people. It says many wonders appear and appeared at this holy and sacred place. I do not even believe but, deeper, I surely know this is truth. People who are suffering of a mental or physical illness or disease meet other people. They connect with each other, they hear and feel each other’s stories. The wonder that appears is it makes them silent. They hear stories much worse than they are in themselves. It’s a relieve.

We continue to focus on the things that disturb us in life. Health, money, disturbances and disappointments in friendships or relationships, problems in our work, etc.. Actually you can see them as things to learn. A lot of times you do not get the things you want. Afterwards you understand you got the things you needed to grow… And yes this can be hard to handle. Especially when you are in that specific situation. It can be hard to find a way to be the witness, the observer, of the situation. Not to judge but to understand and possible learn from it. 

Our suffering keeps us busy and focused on the things we are suffering about. Keeping us away from the possibility we have to focus on the many wonders that are available in our lives, here and now.

Focus on the wonders, be thankful for all you have and got. Enjoy LIVING life more and feed and nurture your grass to be and stay green. No show needed. Only enjoyment.   

Overcome ignorance, be curious, cross borders and fences, be connected with all that is already available for you as well. Stop your general excuses and find creative ideas to take every day again the first step to connect with the many wonders in life.

True liberation. 

Frans Captijn
Host / Catalyst / Talenteer at Captijn Insight

Captijn Insight: “Catalyst in your process to new sustainable flow in life and work. Whether you are an individual, couple, team or an organization.” 

www.captijninsight.com

captijninsight@gmail.com