We learn to fly not by becoming fearless, but by the daily practice of courage.
-Sam Keen
|
From "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck:
Life is difficult.
This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters...
Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them? ...
What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one...Yet it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we challenge the human capacity to solve problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of confronting and resolving problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Those things that hurt, instruct." It is for this reason that wise people learn not to dread but actually to welcome problems and to actually welcome the pain of problems.
Also on Beliefnet:
to receive Health & Happiness insights in your inbox everyday.