Guest guest Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 The Big Squeeze Posted by Ken Lauher on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 @ 05:15 AM Â If we want to communicate and we have a strong aspiration to help others - in terms of engaging in social action, helping our family or community, or just being there for people when they need us - then sooner or later we're going to experience the big squeeze. Our ideals and the reality of what's happening don't match. We feel as if we're between the fingers of a big giant who is squeezing us. We find ourselves between a rock and a hard place.There is often a discrepancy between our ideals and what we actually encounter. For instance, in raising children, we have a lot of good ideas, but sometimes it's challenging to put together the good ideas with how our children are, there at the breakfast table with food all over themselves. Or in meditation, have you noticed how difficult it is to feel emotions without getting totally swept away by them, or how difficult it is simply to cultivate friendliness toward yourself when you're feeling miserable or panicked or all caught up?There's a discrepancy between our inspiration and the situation as it presents itself. It's the rub between those two things - the squeeze between reality and vision - that causes us to grow up, to wake up to be 100 percent decent, alive, and compassionate. The big squeeze is one of the most productive places on the spiritual path and in particular on this journey of awakening the heart.- Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion (Shambhala Library) by Pema Chodron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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