Far too many messages in Western media imply or even assert that a well-ordered life (the right education, job, investments, ambition, etc.) should qualify us for a "get out of pain/trouble/unhappiness free" card. Clearly, this is not the case: despite the obvious advantages of being able to throw more money at problems, the rich, the educated, the powerful still face pain/trouble/unhappiness in their lives. It seems more likely that, when troubles come into our lives, no matter what level of privilege we may posess, the challenge to each of us is the same - how do we make sense of what's happening to us, how do we integrate it into our existing world view? This is certainly one of the common themes of counselling-type conversations, whether you're speaking to a professional or your best friend. Ultimately, I think we earn our happiness by how we respond over time to the unwanted and painful events which come into our lives. Maybe we could also say, "Change is inevitable. Unending suffering is optional," or, "Suffering is instructional."
What do you think?
