Awakening Through Suffering

The lessons

Before we arrive on Earth, we choose paths and experiences lined with challenges, hard relationships, family dynamics, complicated issues and trying situations. It's not meant to break us, but to awaken us to our purpose. It is consciousness living through us to experience the humanness of being.

The truth is, we have the ability to redefine any painful chapter of suffering and bring about its ending much sooner than we think possible. Once we recognise the lessons encoded in the struggles and make the decision to respond to them with more of a conscious effort each time, this accelerates our journey out of the hardship.

The challenges we face

When we lack awareness, we often place blame on others for our pain, hoping it will lighten our load. What we may not realise is that suffering is a deeply personal and spiritual journey of awakening. Our physical existence in this 3-dimensional world allows us to experience the full range of human emotions. In a life without suffering, complacency takes hold and we don't feel the drive to challenge ourselves, grow, question, and thereby awaken to the deeper consciousness beyond the physical.

Suffering jolts us awake. Without challenges, there is no progress. Growth only occurs through overcoming difficulties, and this is true not just for us but for all living beings on this planet. Challenges generate an energy within us that fosters growth emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. We develop new strengths that break through our limitations. Consider how we push ourselves at the gym, lifting heavier weights despite the strain. We endure the challenge and discomfort because the outcome brings about stronger, toned muscles. Similarly, without the trials life presents, we would lack the energy and motivation to move forward and achieve transformation. Suffering can guide us toward our true path and awaken us to our purpose.

How you can navigate this period with confidence

Each and every one of our journeys are purposeful. Life’s toughest experiences come at just the right moment for our own awakening. It's always toughest before clarity. In order to transform our suffering into growth, we need to change our relationship with the concept of suffering. When we label tough times as 'bad', we inflate its power, which adds to our pain. The resistance is our ego trying to protecting us, and the ego's hold thrives in fear. So what are some steps we can take? Here are a few ideas to start:

1. Remind yourself that this is part of the path you have to walk for your spiritual growth. Even if it's out of your control and it's caused by someone else, they are in your life for your spiritual growth. We come into people's lives and people come into ours for a healing opportunity, to reflect back to you a wound of self-limiting belief you have about yourself. It's like they're holding up a mirror to you, and you're doing the same to them.

2. Practice daily meditation and return to your heart space. Even a few minutes can ground you in peace and clarity. Ground yourself in nature and feel its peace. Meditation is that tool that can help you delve deeper and start to discover experientially who you are. The thoughts that pervade you are associated with who you believe you are at the moment, all tied to past experiences, memories, emotion. These are all tied to the separate self, the human self. Meditation takes you out of your job - your role of being an actor here on Earth - and it allows you to remember who you really are. Meditation is the opportunity of transitioning you into who you really are, a spark of the divine.

3. Release the resistance and the pain loses its grip. Say, "I let go of the belief that I'm responsible for everything and everyone." Now, find a way to heal the emotions that need healing - stress, pain, regret, hurt, et cetera. There are many forms of healing modalities out there that work with your energy, whether its's energy healing that releases trauma and negative emotions in your field and balances you, or active breathwork that uses life-force energy to shake the attachments and emotions out of you. There are many modalities and because we are all so individual with our own individual experiences, it sometimes takes a few tries before you find one that helps you to heal. Keep exploring. All it takes is that one person to heal (that's you) and everyone around starts healing in your energy alone. It will be reflected back to you.

4. Alchemise the energy by transmuting it, channeling the feelings into gratitude, creativity, following your passion. Do what ignites your joy. Shift your energy and allow that small or big passion to lift your spirit every day.

5. Learn continuously through books, videos, spiritual teachings that resonate with you. This helps boost motivation and refocus your attention.

6. Do a cord cutting meditation with the intention of releasing attachments through love.

7. Seek support. A life coach or counsellor can help you navigate your journey.

8. A daily prayer to the Universe: "I ask for forgiveness from anyone who has caused me hurt or pain in this lifetime as well as all other lifetimes. I forgive anyone who has caused me hurt or pain in this lifetime as well as all other lifetimes. Thank you with gratitude." Simple but effective and works to cleanse and release stagnant , repetitive habits and emotions rooted in past experiences stored in your energy field.

Karmic patterns

Our souls hold karmic codes, which are patterns, fears, habits and memories carried across lifetimes. It's true that genetics influences our physicality, but the unseen karmic imprints shape our inner world and beyond our physical body. Some traits are inherited beyond the physical DNA, energetic memories stored deep within us, which is why two people sharing the same environment, such as siblings of the same household can lead very different lives and have completely different memories and impressions of their childhood. These karmic patterns can be healed and transformed through ancestral healing approached with awareness, meditation, cutting of energetic cords, energy healing and loving intention, to name a few.

Pain unlocks feelings and truths waiting to be acknowledged. Everyone you come across in your life comes with a purpose, often to offer healing opportunities, however challenging. Sometimes you’re even healing ancestral wounds and family patterns through your own experiences. Recognise and honour your courage and strength.

When we arrive on this Earth, we forget our true essence. We become caught up in our daily experiences, identifying closely with the roles we play and the characters we embody in life’s unfolding story.

Amidst our inner struggles, we often view happiness as distant and unattainable. Something that will come only after we accomplish certain goals, acquire possessions, when our circumstances improve.

We question why events happen to us and not to others. We perceive life through the distorted lenses of societal expectations, biases, social media, et cetera. We look outward, believing that external changes will bring us inner joy.

This is where unhappiness creeps in. We have forgotten that the true purpose of our existence in this world is to awaken our consciousness and realise the deeper truth of who we genuinely are. We have forgotten that this is where unconditional love and happiness lives.

IT'S TIME TO REMEMBER.

After rain comes sunshine

Our adversities actually stem from our interpretations of them. This is what shapes how we respond. Events happen as they are, but it is our mental narrative that amplifies negativity. For example, when faced with a tragic event, sadness is natural and unavoidable. In reality, we should allow ourselves to fully experience that emotion, but not let it consume us. We should feel the unpleasant feelings as they arise, and for as long as they last. Then, we allow it to pass without attaching any label or making it a part of who we are. The quickest way to do this is to catch yourself in the moment and shift focus toward the things in life that you appreciate and love, or imagine/visualise the things that evoke those positive feelings. This perspective shift takes practice, but will help balance your experience and support your continued growth through life’s challenges.

Your healing starts with you. When you heal, the ripple effects are subtle but profound. You’ll notice shifts in yourself and the world around you. If you’re facing times of suffering right now, it's not in vain and you are not alone. Know that your struggle is not a dead-end. It's a doorway. Walk through it with patience, courage and love. On the other side is your joyful awakening filled with peace and happiness born not from escaping pain but embracing and alchemising it for your highest good and the good of all.

My Perspective on Suffering

For a long time, I believed my own suffering was some sort of karmic punishment for actions from a past life. Culturally, that was the common thinking and belief. On my healing journey, however, I have come to learn many things. I have kept the ones that resonate with me deeply and have helped me on the journey, that has helped me emerge stronger than ever, challenge after challenge. Each challenge actually gave me a new lesson and learning. The culmination of which is the realisation that my suffering has been a catalyst for awakening.