From The Daily Dialogue
From The Daily Dialogue
Broadcast of 2/19/98
Subject: [DailyDialogue #50] Pain
"It is your thoughts alone that cause you pain. Nothing external to your mind can hurt or injure you in any way. There is no cause beyond yourself that can reach down and bring oppression. No one but yourself affects you."
- A Course in Miracles
It is tempting to wallow in pain when we are experiencing relationship difficulties, we are unemployed or we are facing health challenges. We may choose to look at our life from the perspective of pain or of joy. One position is a decision to be helpless, the other is a position of power.
Dr. Victor Frankl spent almost three years in concentration camps during the Holocaust. In Man's Search for Meaning, he wrote, "Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress." Persons of less hardy makeup often survived those who were more robust. These were the ones who according to Frankl, "walked through huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread." These were the ones who chose an attitude of love.
As we give to others in the midst of our pain, through words of acknowledgment, acts of kindness, an understanding comment, we transform our attitude. As we connect with the joy of living, we experience peace of mind.
Experiment - Dialogue about your present experience of suffering. Transform that thought to one of appreciating your growth. Give a gift of kindness to your partner.
Affirmation - I choose joy through loving others.
The Daily Dialogue is published each day of 1998 by e-mail. Copyright 1998, Eddy Brame and Marty Crouch, All rights reserved. To share this with a friend, encourage them to subscribe by visiting our website at http://dailydialogue.com/. You may also unsubscribe at the website.
