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 Buddha © Joan Z. Rough, 1998 Life is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if we could only realize it. Nothing ever sums itself up in the way that we like to dream about. The off-center, in-between state is an ideal situation, a situation in which we don’t get caught and we can open our hearts and minds beyond limit. It’s a very tender, nonaggressive, open-ended state of affairs. – Pema Chodron, “Stay with Your Broken Dreams” |
At this moment I seem to be in that “off-center, in-between state” that Pema mentions in this quote. It is an ideal situation with no bombs exploding in my life. I have little to complain about. Though chaos and negative energy abounds around me, I feel healthy and happy. I do what I can to stay positive in the midst of the darkness that seems to surround us all. This is a place I love to inhabit.
But I also know nothing is forever and one of these days I could easily find myself deep in suffering again, showing anger, hostility, feeling pity for myself and wailing, “It’s not fair!” I’ll be bitchy and unpleasant to be around. I believe that being in that place of deep shadows is okay. It’s when I learn things about myself and what my choices are.
Once, as I was crying my way through therapy because my life felt like it was collapsing around me, my therapist told me, “You’re doing great! When you feel this terrible, something’s gonna give.” And it did. Not right away, but down the road a bit, I realized I had choices. I could keep clinging to my fears and anxiety or I could accept my pain, begin to let it all go, and find a sunnier place to live. I understood that I am the only thing that I can change in my life.
Being in Pain, feeling glum, irate and anxious is part of the big picture and nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to all of us as we wander down our paths. One minute we’re in the sun, then clouds gather and we’re in what we think is our darkest moment. If we invite our demons in and sit with them, we’ll see that life is what it is. We can add to the misery of the world or find a way to bring peace to ourselves and all of those around us.
this is amazing, thanks. I loved the donkey quote too.
Thanks Patricia, Like you, I love that both of those quotes and try to remember them whenever I enter a shady spot or pushing myself beyond what I can do.
Delicious. I have been constantly pulling myself back to the in-between space this week and in fact am spending this beautiful morning drifting in and out of a nap. Thanks for sharing this. I love the quote and will revisit this as I heal.
Sharon, So glad you like the quote. I find it to be one worth remembering as I plod through the parts of my life I’m not crazy about. And from me to you, more healing energy and lots of love!
That in-between state is so uncomfortable for me, and I’m always very anxious to get out of it and back in balance with life and myself. This is a good reminder that there is positive energy to be found in those painful times. Thank you for the insight 🙂
I believe that there is always a great learning happening during those dark times and helps to bring us out the other side into the sun again!!
This is very beautifully said. Sometimes, when everything is great in our life we are afraid that we will lose it one day and it makes us anxious, even when everything is fine. It is hard to accept that everything is changing constantly, but this is the essence of our life and this what makes it fun, right?
I don’t think it’s always fun, but even when it isn’t, it’s necessary. I don’t mind change after the scary part is over and I’ve figured how how I’m supposed to proceed.