Why Do We Suffer?

"You must not under any pretense allow your mind to dwell on any thought that is not positive, constructive, optimistic, kind" - Emmet Fox


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It's easy to feel pity for ourselves when it appears the world has come down on us. We refuse to see anything else other than gloom from our sad experiences; it's a normal human tendency.
Finding themselves in the same boat, three women sat at a garden drinking coffee on a warm Sunday morning. "I did everything right, yet I'm a lonely, miserable maiden," said Tina the hostess of the pity party, as she mopped tears from her eyes."Oh, mine's worse," cried Lina, "I'm unemployed and in debt. Worse still, I'm battling breast cancer." When they turned to their friend who'd just lost all her kids in a plane crash, she said, "I'm enjoying the birdsong and the weather so much, I can't even remember the things that aren't right in my life."
Someone once said: "the soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears"

We often wonder why suffering is allowed in the lives of good people. But suffering isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes problems are used to teach us the essence of compassion. In our suffering we also learn to deal with life's problems. While some of us might choose to dwell on the "why-me side of things", the rest of us can choose to focus on the bright side of life.

Trials and tribulations are usually blessings in disguises. They, usually, force us to dig deep within our souls in search of a new meaning for our lives. Instead of asking, "Why is God punishing me?" Perhaps, you can ask, "What am I to learn from all of this?" There seems to be a message in every tough situation, if only we listen carefully enough. The truth is nothing happens for the sake of it. It might be difficult to learn positively from every bad experience but you can, with the love and guidance of wiser people.

In facing tough times, we should be willing to see the bright side of things and focus on improving and moral characters things. In doing this, our outlook on life will be improved. Praying frequently and studying are valuable tools for dealing with tough times.

Be determined to acquire new virtues at the end of each trial. Notice how kids become smarter with each bad experience. They are young and naive, too trusting of the people around them. Life works like every loving parent who would stop their child from putting his hand on a hot stove. The child "suffers" at the moment by being denied access and by the temporary pain of a spanking. But the parent sees the "big picture" and disciplines the child. So, too, can Life discipline us so that we learn to think critically about bigger decisions; this is a call to see tough times differently; as new opportunities to learn and become wiser.

It is wrong to assume that people in tough situations incurred the wrath of a higher power upon themselves. Hardships are probably a call to be more compassionate, even with ourselves. Suffering ought not to elicit judgemental attitudes from us, rather, it ought to teach us compassion and love and empathy.

 Showing these emotions to the suffering is part of the beginning of true rebirth.