Years ago, during a devastating crisis, I saw a quote that struck a nerve: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”
I felt the deep wisdom in those words. Yet I couldn’t figure out how to apply them to my life. Here I was, facing a crushing divorce from a compulsive liar, a million-dollar tax bill I couldn’t pay, and my parents refusing to help. Left alone to raise 3 young daughters, I was terrified.
Since that time, I’ve often wondered—Is it really possible to find peace in the midst of pain? The answer escaped me…
Until this week…when Katie Adler, a member of my online community, shared an article about Wabi Sabi.
Wabi Sabi, an ancient Japanese philosophy, is all about finding peace and beauty in imperfection. And it offers a simple but practical formula for experiencing pain without suffering:
“Accept what is, stay in the present moment, and appreciate the simple, transient stages of life.”