A Gentle Investigation
"Each of us must work for our own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity."
~ Marie Curie
This month's Thought for You encourages a gentle investigation of the bittersweet aspects of life and reflects on our common humanity. I have included three articles that make for an interesting investigation together.
The first article was shared by several friends in our mindfulness community. It's found in The Atlantic and written by Arthur C. Brooks.
Mindfulness Hurts. That’s Why It Works. Facing the painful parts of life head-on is the only way to feel at home with yourself.
I especially liked these points:
Avoiding mindfulness can also be an effective way to distract yourself from pain.
Having a negative self-perception — feeling ashamed of oneself, for example — is also likely to lead to distraction from the here and now.
Mindfulness does not mean obsessing over yourself and your problems and disregarding others.
Mindfulness should work toward a sense of yourself as part of the wider world and observation of your emotions without judgment.
The second article, How Sorrow and Longing Enrich Your Life by Jill Suttie reviews Susan Cain's new book that suggests that life is richer and more poignant when we accept pain, sadness, and bittersweet feelings.
Recognizing impermanence, brings the beauty of the world into stark relief for us, says Cain. Transcendent experiences—feeling a sense of wonder, common humanity, and a part of something greater than yourself — are among the most bittersweet, meaningful experiences in life and can actually lead to higher self-esteem, kind behavior, and greater life satisfaction, and less depression.
And finally, another article by Arthur C. Brooks, The Subtle Mindset Shift That Could Radically Change the Way You See the World.
I especially like Arthur Brooks's synthesis of what the Dali Lama says:
We are happy when we live in our natural state, which is in harmony with each other; this is due to the fact that our individual nature is an illusion; we should teach this for the sake of truth and greater happiness; but we should also question this continually, in a spirit of openness and mutual respect.
I encourage you to use this expressive writing practice, from the Greater Good, to do a deep dive. See what comes up for you. Explore these concepts with gentleness and compassion for yourself and our shared community.