Life is never a bed of roses

Many people are cognizant of this yet most forget. Life is never easy. People tend to find the easy way out and make their environment as comfortable as they possibly can. They are unwilling to push themselves beyond their limits but instead choose to rest on their laurels. Can't blame them, can we? Because we are only humans.

After all, not many would choose suffering over pleasure. To the bearers of pain, I salute all of you. It is arduous to keep forcing yourself to defeat your own self. But which is better? Being thrown in circumstances or pushing yourself in your own free will? The results differ.

Being thrown in tough situations will not leave you with any choice. You are forced to do this and that without comparing about how life has been in the past. Soon, all these little actions make you stronger without you ever knowing it. You will be pleasantly surprised with yourself at the end of the day.

However, pushing yourself towards betterment is hard as you are so accustomed to the rosy life that you have always had and are unwilling to give that all up. As a result, you make little improvements. You are discontented with your little success as you expect more from all the hard work. The determined ones will keep persevering on, the weak ones revert to their old ways.

The stark difference between the former and latter is the divergence of mindset. The people in the latter group should open up their minds and be mentally prepared to let go of their rosy lives. They should not be afraid to accept suffering as it is just part and parcel of life. In suffering, we find strength. That is why Mother Teresa once said that the strongest people are the poor and the suffering.

This is a quote from Tao Te Ching, it says:

If you want to become whole, let youself be partial.
If you want yourself to become straight, let yourself become crooked.
If you want to become full, let yourself become empty.
If you want to be reborn, let yourself die.
If you want to be given everything.....
Give everything up.

To give everything up is to give yourself a chance to discover the meaning of life, happiness and most importantly, yourself.