Can we use our challenges to connect with our humanity? Or, do we use them to put ourselves
in a box?
Many times, when faced with challenges and pain, we judge our experience as bad. We want to hide and function as though we are complete and separate entities. The walls of our boxes are built from
the judgments we make about ourselves from our personal experiences and backgrounds.
They form the assumptions from which we construct our view of the world. Often they come from our
early childhood and represent our egocentric tendency to fault ourselves for things we do not
understand.
Our boxes prevent us from tapping into the roots of our common human experience. Rather than
attempting to understand others, we distance ourselves by judging and discojnnecting.
When we use our pain to connect with our humanity, we feel more complete because we are reconnected. This enhances our personal sense of well-being and gives our lives meaning. Instead of being negative, it leads to passion and purpose in our lives.
One way to face pain, is to honor the personal strengths that have helped you to rise to to overcome
your challenges. You can discover them by reflecting on your personal history as well as by sharing with
friends and family.
When you do so, you will discover the higher qualities that hold you together. One way to discover your
strengths is to go to www.authentichappiness.org and take the VIA strengths questionairre. You will
discover your unique signature strengths as well as those that you share in common with others. Then,
take time to reflect and share how they have showed up in your lives.
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