May 9: Day 129

STONE SIX CONTINUED
 
Be: Letting go of past hurts, disappointments, and abuses and letting go of future plans and expectations, I resolve to live in the present moment and simply be. Be present; be open; be available; be with Higher Self.

Instruction: Stay with the experience.

Instead of trying to move out of an unpleasant experience as quickly as possible, why not learn to live with it and stay with it until we have learned all that we can from it? I realize that holding onto pain, including but not limited to physical pain, is something we instinctively want to get away from as quickly as possible. Suggesting that we stay with the pain might border on masochism, but we are not necessarily enjoying the pain — we are simply recognizing the pain, examining the feelings, and searching for understanding. Part of being in the moment means to learn the lessons that come our way no matter what is going on around us, and one motivation for learning those lessons, especially those that seem painful, is that we can move beyond them and find more pleasant experiences. Suggesting we remain in them seems counterproductive to our ultimate goals, but the problem often comes when we try to move past the pain before we’ve learned the lessons intended for us.

In order to avoid painful experiences, we often mask the pain as quickly as possible. This is understandable, but when we do, the pain loses some of its ability to guide and correct us. If we are in a bad relationship but we mask the pain with alcohol or drugs, it could take us years to remove ourselves from the situation, because we’ve found a way to cope with it instead of finding ways to overcome it. As we remain in the moment, we will be more apt to make decisions more effectively and quickly. As with all things, balance and common sense are important and will help us know when to release as quickly as possible and when to allow ourselves to remain in order to work through to a more permanent solution. Often we use a combination of both approaches, and the trial-and-error method also has great merit.

Today’s Assignment is to examine your life for painful experiences that need attention. If you have been living with a painful situation for a long time, consider if you are not dealing with the pain but simply masking it in order to get by. Sometimes when you mask your pain you create more problems while leaving the original problem unsolved. If you feel you have done your best to deal with the situation but still haven’t found a solution, consider speaking to someone who might be able to give you a different perspective. It is possible that a problem might not have an immediate solution, and when that happens, you need to find ways to live with it that doesn’t create more problems.