The Travails

I believe there is nothing else than this moment, enjoying it for what it is: an opportunity for fun, forgiveness, passion, grace, compassion, love, empathy, friendship, revelry, letting go, profound conversation, light and meaningless drivel, fun, excitement, laughter and most of all, us.

I believe the ultimate compassion is for one’s self – all compassion flows from acceptance and nurturing of one’s own condition.

I believe that tomorrow may be a better day but today could be the best day, ever.

I believe in sorting out your own rubbish before attempting to help others but recognise only the truly enlightened can eliminate their own suffering, which may take lifetimes to complete.

I believe love can be difficult but in itself is not painful. Your pain is your own pain, so own it.

I believe true happiness comes from within, and unhappiness also – do not blame others for your suffering.

I believe positive thinking is fine, unless you don’t believe it – that’s suppression and it will manifest itself sooner or later, when you least expect it, probably at an important time, and it might hurt others. So experience happiness as well as unhappiness to its fullest. Allow, accept, observe and nurture.

I believe that people can only hurt you with words if you believe on some level that they are true.

I believe helping others won’t help yourself, and your good deeds may never be reciprocated – we should give to give, not to receive.

I believe I am my own worst enemy. Who else is there? The universe and its occupants are not conspiring against us – this is not Hollywood.

I believe we fall in love with a reflection of ourselves but that true love is acceptance of the other as a person, not your projection of who that person should be, or was. Neither are we each others saviors or everything to each other - but we can be loving companions and support one another as evolving individuals.

I believe that people who take you for granted may not know that they are, but that this is no excuse and neither is it your responsibility or a reflection of your intrinsic worth.

I believe expectation is the cousin of disappointment.

I believe you get out of life what you put in.

I believe in overcoming fear and following your passion – you will regret it if you don’t.

I believe that suffering is inevitable but recognise that your suffering won’t cause the world to stop - if you wallow you may miss an opportunity to be present for something uplifting and beautiful.

I believe you should be conscious of how your words and actions impact others but that as long as those words aren’t consciously or unconsciously nasty, ill-conceived or malicious, you are not responsible for another’s pain.

I believe nature is our most precious commodity. Appreciate it, love it, bear witness to it in all its grandeur, and love her most subtle sound, smell, motion or action. Nature can anchor you in the here and now. 

I believe that believing something doesn’t make it real. It may be dogmatic thinking – be conscious of that.

Mark Fox, The Travails