Check-In May 20-24, 2019
Hi everyone, I hope that your weekend was okay and wish you all a good week 
Todays topic is about Suffering
Suffering occurs when we are in pain, like having a flu or stub our toe pain, what I believe is quite natural.
Sometimes, however, we inflict suffering on ourselves by an ignorant or delusional understanding of reality, how we perceive and interpret circumstances. Accepting what we cannot change is fundamental to reduce this kind of self-inflicted suffering.
Can you give examples of what helped you to embrace suffering, what were helpful thoughts you had?
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I've read that the Buddha said: "Pain is certain, suffering is optional". From this I take that it is our choice how we react to pain, we can struggle against it, or accept it. How we choose can either enhance or diminish our suffering.,
@MissPen
Very true pen, the 3rd of the 3 types of suffering, the all-pervasive suffering (as far as I know). It is up to us. Thanks for sharing this.
@MissPen for me the pain is not the suffering. For me the suffering is wishing I was not having pain, wondering what I did wrong to deserve this pain, wishing tomorrow will be better than today, clinging to the idea that life can be totally free of pain.
@amiablePeace77 "Can you give examples of what helped you to embrace suffering, what were helpful thoughts you had?"
I think for me a big part of accepting suffering as inevitable is to see how other people all over the world are suffering incredible losses and infirmities. The human spirit can get stronger in the face of suffering.
@soulsings
A very good point, it is inevitable, it is part of the life of all beings.
Sometimes, for me, it's the RESISTANCE to experiencing suffering that causes most of the tension/pain. For example, with my eating disorder, when I am stressed about a thing and I eat to medicate, then I have regret and other fall-out consequences to my decision to eat...and now I am stressed about TWO things.
@MsBrownieBee I try to eat healthy food when I try to reduce my stress level. Part of my stress occurs when I do not have enough protein and my brain starts freaking out. The low carb high protein diet helps me to stay calmer. These high protein pancakes are sweetened with banana or any fruit and use less flour for very puffy pancakes https://www.7cups.com/forum/35OverCommunity_166/Recipeexchange_1815/HighProteinLowCarbpancakes_196824/
Also mindful eating has helped me slow down and experience the food more as this video shows. Eating a Raisin Mindfully https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFLvqEy71RI
@MsBrownieBee
Bee, I agree the resistance to experience suffering can cause more suffering at the end. Sorry about your eating disorder, that's a viscious cycle, hope you are getting through well.