I am willing to put myself through anything; temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. I am interested in the unknown, and the only path to the unknown is through breaking barriers, an often painful process. ~Diana Nyad
The start of a new year signals change for most people. This is when we make large, sweeping resolutions. THIS year will be different. THIS is the year we will get thin, healthy, rich, married, happy. But by February, the vast majority of us are right where we started, no closer to the vision of our perfect life. Why do we continue to replay this drama, year after year? Most people let go of their promises because humans are often looking for the easy path and true change is inconveniently hard. We forget that transformation involves sacrifice and grit. We are unwilling to confront the obstacles in our path to becoming better.
But obstacles are one of life’s greatest gifts. We grow stronger and wiser by change, not by chance. In the Buddhist traditions, the lotus is a symbol of awakening and spiritual growth. The lotus flower starts life underwater, where the water is perfectly still on the surface. But far below, the lotus is sprouting in the muck, surrounded by mud and murky water. The seed contains perfectly formed leaves, a miniature version of its beautiful potential. This stem keeps pushing past the dirty obstacles, always moving toward the light and stillness of the surface to bloom into a beautiful flower. The inner petals of the lotus are perfect, never having touched the muck. It is said that the most beautiful blooms are the ones that grew in the nastiest conditions.
In this way, we can see the obstacles in our own lives as a gift. Even though we may be swimming in mud, suffering in the darkness of our life circumstances, we are pure inside. We must continue to swim toward the light, knowing that we too will bloom in time. We can transcend our suffering to know peace and joy.
If this is truly the year you get your shit together, then be prepared for the challenge. Trust the obstacles and know that you’ll bloom in your own time.
