Suffering Is Optional 🌀

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

LIFE ON URTH - Episode 086

Yesterday, my wife asked me why talking about consciousness is so important to me. Despite this topic being my focus for many years, I couldn’t give her a satisfying answer straight away.

She kept pushing me, and together we managed to flesh out three ideas that I found life-changing when I first explored them. There's no match for the kind of freedom that’s unlocked by understanding the principles of consciousness.

The best part? You can easily test all of these ideas for yourself - anywhere, anytime!

Nothing else is needed but to pay attention to how consciousness already is: meaningful, alive, ever-changing, and bigger than any of its contents.

1) Pain is real, suffering is optional.

The simple act of acceptance eradicates all suffering. Pain still lingers as a form of energy, ranging from dull and pressing to cold and burning.

These details might be important diagnostic information for your doctor or therapist, but suffering only arises from distraction - thinking about the pain instead of feeling it.

Like all contents of consciousness, pain is simply another landmark in a wider landscape. It is only a temporary element of our movie-like experience.

2) You can always begin again.

No matter how far away from mindfulness you were moments ago, you can come back to clarity right now. Noticing distractions and tension isn’t a failure; it’s an opportunity to pay attention.

No points are given for how many minutes you spent meditating yesterday. The only moment you can ever successfully use for mindfulness is now. Your life is the practice - simply begin again, whenever you can.

3) Attention is your most valuable asset.

Value warps perception - it literally changes your world and how you react to it. Ultimately, it is attention that gives value to anything:

Attention is selection.
Selection is exclusion.
Exclusion is valuation.

A practice of attention should be at the very top of your healthy-habits list. It will make everything else easier.

Distraction is nothing but letting your automatic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors control you. But remember: As the word “automatic” implies, this is the default state for all of us. It is therefore not useful or necessary to punish yourself for noticing your distraction. It is, however, your responsibility to make the most of every such opportunity.

Curiosity is what all these ideas are rooted in. Become curious about the effect curiosity has on your life, and you will soon find yourself on an unstoppable upwards-spiral.

Waking Up is the meditation app I’ve been using for many years. They’re hosting a 14-day challenge called “Real Attention.” As a member, I can invite you to join for free.
See you there! 🙏

✒️ Quote of the Week: “Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.” -Rumi

🎧 Song of the Week: EIN - NEBEL

📺 Video of the Week: Nothing About Octopus Is Normal

I want to expand the format of this newsletter by responding to reader comments and questions.
Of course, I’ll need some comments and questions first 😂 So I’d love to hear from you!

Did something in my writing catch your attention?
Was there an idea you found particularly intriguing?
Or is there a question that’s been on your mind related to these topics?

Just reply to this email or write to me at mail@urth.blog 👈

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All the best,

Adrian / Urth

Can’t wait until next week’s edition? Check out my essays.