Pain & Coconuts

This has been a curious week. Over the course of the week three individuals came in that were obviously struggling with major issues in their lives. In offering what assistance I could I was reminded of the many layers of pain one can experience.

I have come to the conclusion that life, in some ways, is like a coconut. There is the rough outer shell that we all are familiar with. But if one is able to go deeper into the experience one comes upon the meat. If one continues inward within the same coconut one comes upon the juice and finally one comes upon the inner space. Each layer within is gentler, softer and more forgiving.

One can experience pain the same way. The way within is to simply be with the pain. Without making it wrong or trying to change it or push it away one can simply breathe into the pain, giving the pain a loving space to simply be. Oftentimes when we make our pain wrong we actually strengthen its hold on us. I have found that by simply allowing the pain to be, surrounded by loving space, has the power to bring the awareness to the deeper experiences, so that one can experience the sacredness of the moment, even a painful one, that is like the open space within the coconut.

We can experience all the layers simultaneously, not just getting stuck on the rough outer experience.This is not to say that we do not take action to alleviate the pain or correct a painful situation. But I have found that simply being with the pain first helps ensure that whatever action is taken is coming from a space of love.

Back to the Inspiration

Copyright Changing Times Gifts © 2003