You always give food for thought. I suppose all of us go through periods of sadness and had to manage them. That’s not always easy. I suppose the bottom line is to be patient with your own nature try and comfort yourself and to allow step-by-step changes to happen to take you to new growth. Thank you for this forum. It is always interesting.
Your essay is one I will real again and again. One of the most important lessons I learned at the beginning of studying Mussar is that staying balanced, especially with my difficult emotions,
Is the way to experience the emotion, as well as learning about myself. The soul to soul connection
Heather, what I have found to be valuable is paying attention to feelings to which I feel aversion to investigate what it is that I want to avoid. Maybe those feelings are good signals to stay away from something negative or even harmful. Often, though, I’m just trying to avoid something makes me uncomfortable because if our generation has prioritized anything, it is comfort. But from the other side, we all know that growth can be uncomfortable — maybe must be uncomfortable. So there is every possibility that by avoiding discomfort, I am avoiding growth. Sadness and grief are case in point. I strive to investigate, not in pursuit of comfort but truth and growth.
Thank you, Alan,
You always give food for thought. I suppose all of us go through periods of sadness and had to manage them. That’s not always easy. I suppose the bottom line is to be patient with your own nature try and comfort yourself and to allow step-by-step changes to happen to take you to new growth. Thank you for this forum. It is always interesting.
Bonnie K
Oops - not finished-
Your essay is one I will real again and again. One of the most important lessons I learned at the beginning of studying Mussar is that staying balanced, especially with my difficult emotions,
Is the way to experience the emotion, as well as learning about myself. The soul to soul connection
Is what feeds me during difficult times.
I thank you for this insightful post.
Heather, what I have found to be valuable is paying attention to feelings to which I feel aversion to investigate what it is that I want to avoid. Maybe those feelings are good signals to stay away from something negative or even harmful. Often, though, I’m just trying to avoid something makes me uncomfortable because if our generation has prioritized anything, it is comfort. But from the other side, we all know that growth can be uncomfortable — maybe must be uncomfortable. So there is every possibility that by avoiding discomfort, I am avoiding growth. Sadness and grief are case in point. I strive to investigate, not in pursuit of comfort but truth and growth.
This is an excellent post. It articulates what I feel when I am sad and the healthy way to feel it
Another beautiful post. Alan! Thank you. May you have an easy fast 🙏
Thank you on both counts, Susan. An easy fast to you as well.
I am enjoying all your posts, Alan, and read them weekly. Thank you.
Great to hear, Jinks. Wishing you well in every way.