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These "musings" are short articles on select topics. If this one resonates with you, learn about our online, self-paced program - Awareness-based therapy. Last updated December, 2017. Over the years we've written a lot about topics related to mindfulness and meditation. We've published more than 100 articles here and elsewhere on the Internet, as well as a steady stream of Facebook posts and Tweets. All of these topics share a common thread that can be summed up in 5 words, as represented in this Zen proverb: "Let go or be dragged."Life's suffering can be traced back to our attachments. We are attached to:
We have attachments because we seek certainty in a world ruled by impermanence. We want to control the uncontrollable. We want to be secure. Things should fit into this nice box we've designed - if they don't, we experience frustration, disappointment, resentment, anger, and on and on. If we learned to let go, however, we wouldn't be dragged. The problem is, letting go is scary. It's scary because attachments are familiar. They are comfortable. As such, you could even say we are attached to our attachments. But the alternative - a lifetime of self-imposed suffering - is scarier, isn't it? So why do we still cling to our attachments? Because most of us don't give attention to the idea of "letting go." We simply go through life experiencing the roller coaster of ups and downs, and we call it normal. The good news is, if you've read this far you are giving it attention. You know there are two options:
What are you going to do? I suggest being mindful in the hours and days ahead, and making note (taking an honest assessment) of your attachments. And, mark your calendar to check back here in a few days for a follow-up musing with suggestions for next steps (note - here is that follow-up musing). Awareness-based therapy (ABT) Do you struggle with thoughts and emotions? Our online, self-paced program can help. It teaches you how your mind works, and provides a path to move beyond "coping" to achieving and maintaining a more consistent state of well-being. Find out more about the ABT program here. >>> A request: This is an ad-free (and, pop-up free) site. If what we write helps you, please share it by copying the URL http://www.thetadprinciple.com/daily-musings/five-words-that-can-change-your-life and posting it to social media (or, email it to a friend!). Thank you! <<< Related writing: Comments are closed.
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