Choosing to Suffer
Suffering is inevitable in life. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a thing. But it’s worth being clear: suffering is chosen, not our default state.
We have it backwards
- In modern society we spend most of our time working, striving, achieving, with rare moments of “free time” treated as luxury. Most of our time suffering, with occasional moments of freedom and love.
Work is suffering
- I’m not talking about schlep work you dread. Even when you’re working toward something aligned with your deepest purpose, suffering arises. Craving more. Desiring a goal. Wanting to be better. Any dissatisfaction with the present moment as it is gives rise to suffering.
- And it takes dissatisfaction to create anything. If we weren’t dissatisfied, weren’t craving, we wouldn’t need to do anything at all. Suffering is inextricable from the game of life.
Flip it around
- Suffering is a chosen state. We forget this because we suffer so often.
- Living free, satisfied and full is the default. From that spacious place we can choose to engage in work and action - voluntarily entering the suffering, voluntarily tussling with the world. But we must do so consciously, for a specific purpose, before returning to freedom and love.
- Don’t take your last breath wishing you had enjoyed the whole symphony instead of rushing toward the final crash of the cymbal.