i read today that our emotional reactions are not caused by the outside world, exactly. they come from within, our emotions are generated from our thoughts about how we can handle the outside world. this is the true source of stress, of sadness, of pain, it is how we think about external situations, not the situations themselves.

this sort of conclusion makes sense. it fits. but just because that’s the case does not mean the conclusion is an obvious one. and this one is certainly not obvious.

well, i suppose that it could be obvious, though it may be difficult for us to accept. we may find that our thoughts, even if they are negative and self-sabotaging, are comfortable. we are used to them, and we find security in their consistency. it’s a lot harder to change our minds, to muster the courage to change the way that we think about situations, than it is to blame others for the emotions that overwhelm us.

well, it appears easier. it is easier to fault someone else. it’s almost natural to pin the blame on another person, it’s natural to reflect responsibility. my theory? it’s painful to think that we are the ones making ourselves miserable, because it seems a lot harder to change ourselves than it does to change the world.

so i will remain open to everything, to everyone. i will welcome pain when it comes, because with it i will grow. i will let myself feel rejected. i will let myself be rejected. this is the only way to love.

the path to love is paved with pain. it’s dangerous. it requires us to be

attentive

but we must remember

the light that shines along the way.