In his book “The Road Less Traveled,” psychiatrist M. Scott Peck begins by stating that life is difficult. He argues that recognizing and accepting this fact can help us move beyond it. Once we truly understand and accept life’s difficulties, they seem less daunting. Embracing the challenges of being human becomes easier when we accept the inevitability of suffering.
I’d like to share some suggestions to help you grasp this truth. Take your time with each point, reflect on them deeply, and compare them with your own experiences without any pressure to be perfect. Embrace your vulnerability, drop any defensive barriers, and allow yourself to be human and imperfect.
Spend at least a minute on each thought, lingering a bit longer on the last one. These initial activities help you empathize with yourself. Acknowledge that you are a being in need of support and deserving of it. This self-awareness can lay the foundation for being kind to yourself. Phrases like “May I be well. May I be at ease. May I be kind to myself and others” can help reinforce this support. By the time you reach the final suggestion, you might find yourself naturally inclined to offer kindness and encouragement to yourself.
These reflections reveal our vulnerability, which can be uncomfortable. It’s common to feel heartache or sadness during this process. These feelings indicate that you are connecting with long-suppressed emotions and acknowledging the reality of your suffering. It might be frightening to accept that we often suffer and lack full control over our lives, but acknowledging this truth is crucial.
If painful feelings arise, accept them and show kindness to yourself. They are signs that you are becoming more attuned to life’s difficulties. Empathizing with and being kind to yourself is vital for accepting this reality, as it helps you move past fear and denial.
These reflections pave the way from fear and denial to love and acceptance. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable helps us recognize life’s challenges and difficulties. It also fosters self-empathy and kindness, making the journey of being human a bit easier.