10 reasons to be grateful for difficulty

Energy is in constant motion. It takes form in relationships and circumstances that encourage you to explore emotional turmoil. The universe creates situations that relate to all your choices. This is karma in tow. Not everyone grasps the basis for karma. Consider 10 reasons to be grateful for difficulties;

1) It is opportunity to challenge your anger. Negative energy hides true reasons for upset. As you identify discomfort, you grow aware of parts of personality you can change, and shift mental focus to what you want to strengthen.

2) It draws attention to buried pain. Unless you heal root causes, suffering will not change. Only self-awareness permits you to reframe and heal painful memories. Knowing about your emotions and why you create them enables you to compare what you created before to how you feel now so you learn to create different feelings. This is a meaningful healing process.

3) It encourages you to heal a competitive nature. The desire to compete, to accept a challenge, to fight a court case, to defend your belief of innocence in any argument, all reflects deep-seated fear. Unless you address core reasons for inadequacy and insecurity, you fight misplaced battles you do not win. From the soul view, only love exists. It teaches how ego and emotion are measures of unacknowledged pain.

4) It suggests you to stop viewing self as victim. Contrary to popular belief, every experience you encounter is appropriate at a given moment. On some level you may not be aware of yet, you deserve every experience you get. When you do not choose to let go of expectations, you resist forgiveness of self and others and refuse to surrender to the moment.

5) It invites you to give up judging. No situation is good or bad. You attribute labels based on misunderstandings. You discover judgments obscure the truth. This  perpetuates discomfort and inner restlessness. You resist unconditional self-acceptance. You learn judging mirrors what you do to self.

6) It teaches how the soul communicates. Difficulty is soul's way of telling you healing is required. The remedy is not to withdraw from sources of hardship, but to realize how you contribute to them and learn to search inside the self for causes of apparent pain.  You are guided to speak from the heart rather than listen to ego-mind.

7) It teaches you to learn trust. Every experience is a test for awareness and faith in what you do not understand.  You are reminded it is not always clear why you exist right now. What matters is that you discern which parts of you prevent you from using your gifts to the best of your ability.  To develop deeper emotional awareness empowers you to make more responsible choices.

8) It teaches you escape is not the answer.  Part of you gets confused when you do not experience joy, harmony and enthusiasm.  Choosing to avoid difficulties simply means the emotions underneath them will create new hardships to get your attention until you listen. 

9) It brings out support in those around you.  Uncondtional love and support surround you in unseen ways, regardless of your actions.  Perceived difficulties also invite empathy and understanding from people you know and do not. They offer love and support.  This teaches you what soul wants you to do-to love and accept all of self. 

10) It prepares you to handle other hardship.  In some sense, each obstacle you face and work through can make other ones less intimidatng and easier to manage. You gain confidence as you reach each milestone.  You sense meaning and purpose in each hurdle.  Inner changes have already begun.  As you consciously intend harmony, cooperation and service to others, then you realize you exist to experiment with your life.  You figure out how to get out of vicious circles.   

Mother Theresa's Prayer

May today bring you peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.