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259. programmed

All our problems start in childhood. And it’s not just the fault of our parents, it’s also the things that happened at school and with our peers. Anything that happened before that transitionary age of 18, pretty much cemented the way we’ve thought and acted ever since.

The trauma we made it through isn’t who we are, but it did program us to see and approach the world in a certain way. Until we realize that there is a difference between what happened and what we understood it to be, we will be stuck viewing our future through the lens of the past. It can keep us from taking necessary risks, standing up for ourselves, asking for the things we deserve, and working hard to get the things we want.

Being stuck in the past is what stops our growth, and keeps us from the life we keep saying we want to have. At a certain point, we all need to realize it’s no longer good enough to look in the mirror and simply think “this is who I am.” We all need to be willing to break the mirror to see what’s on the other side, and redefine our lives from where we are today.

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Ryan Crossfield Ryan Crossfield

185. to live is to suffer

It’s been said “to live is to suffer.” We mistakenly embody this idea, and endure it’s continual visitation, without realizing that the suffering is due to our failure to listen to the lesson life is trying to impress upon us.

The suffering stems from our desires coming into conflict with our needs. In other words, we want one thing, while the universe is trying to let you know you need another. This translates into our feelings of “suffering” because we aren’t always able to get what we want, and therefore become forced into a life of unease, until we learn the lesson the universe is trying to teach. It’s a hard concept to come to terms with, but once you do, you can live a more harmonious life.

Also, it’s hard to know ourselves because we can’t objectively see ourselves within the world. The only context we have for the way we decide to do things is through our own interaction, which is tainted with our innate desires. The universe doesn’t have that problem. It knows what you need, and will put things in your path in an effort to create the awareness necessary for you to make the change you need to make.

Our “suffering” is just a part of the learning process. It’s a mismatch between what we think we want, and what we need to become the next version of ourselves. We can continue to suffer, or we can choose to listen to the lesson.

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