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Acceptance – Turning towards difficulties

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honourably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing and invite
them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Jalaluddin Rumi 13th Century poet

When we are faced with a difficulty such as the stress of an exam, illness, sadness or fatigue it is natural to want to push it away. From trying to solve it, to ignore it or to hide from it. These methods do not always work and there may be an element of denial. We may not want to admit to ourselves that we are vulnerable and fear being judged by others.

If instead of pushing away we accept the difficult we are giving our minds the ability to gain a deeper understanding of how things really are. Acceptance allows us to become more fully aware of our difficulties and to respond to them more thoughtfully.  This is described quite elegantly in the above poem.

Linda James
College Counsellor