We have a choice when it comes to suffering

I was on a call with a friend today where we discussed the fact that suffering is a choice.

I feel it's important to say that it doesn't mean we don't experience pain. We all do.

And there is also a choice in how we experience life.

Suffering is the ego getting attached to an outcome.

That something shouldn't have happened or be different than how it is.

.

Suffering is refusing reality.

The question then becomes ''Am I making myself suffer over this''?

And then also not seeing Life as not mean and cruel towards us.

But owning our choice.

Of how we experience reality.

Am I making myself suffer over this?

.

Suffering is something we do to ourselves.

And see if there is a part of you that is attached to the suffering.

A part of you that identifies with it.

That holds on to it like something important to be defended.

That is going to tell me that I lack compassion.

.

The truth is simply that there is another way.

People call it enlightenment.

It really is being able to be with reality.

To experience life, let it move through us.

Feel the pain, feel the joy. Grow.

And that it can be from a place of absolute lightness in the heart.

.

This is still a practice for me to take this into every part of my life.

And what I'm looking at are the places where I have benefited from suffering.

The extra attention from others and my ego enjoying the busy problem solving games.

Freeing myself from that is also the most natural thing I could possibly do.

Now that I know it's a choice, I feel that I have the tools for my entire life to be deeply nourishing.