1. Suffering doesn’t block awakening, it catalyzes it. Most people don’t begin their spiritual path because everything is fine. It’s suffering that cracks the surface of the self, but only when we turn toward it with open-heartedness and support does it become the doorway to transcendence. Trauma and revelation aren’t opposites—the

Mindful observation of our discomforts opens the door to valuable insights about the nature of our suffering, enabling personal growth. By gently observing our experiences without judgment, we can uncover layers of emotion and thought that contribute to our discomfort, ultimately leading to deeper understanding and transformation.

One hack is stepping back and looking at previous bits of suffering I’ve had in my life. I write them down. “Last time you broke up with somebody, last time you had a business failure, last time you had a health issue, what happened?” I can trace the growth and improvement that came from it years later.