Why wish our gold away?

What does it mean to be human?

It means to understand that our task is to engage with our struggles, to struggle with them rather than against them.

And yet it seems that so much of the human race is trying to hide from their issues or run away from them. We numb ourselves, tell ourselves it isn't our problem, pass blame on others, anything but deal with our troubles.

The way to grow in strength, understanding and insight is to open the door to our struggles; to recognise they are there for a reason.

We need to welcome our everyday experiences fully and discover what they have to teach us.

They contain the alchemical gold we need to feel more aware, awake and alive. More truly ourselves.

This does not mean positive thinking or affirmations or attempts to change what we are seeing and experiencing. Quite the reverse. It means finally seeing these things as they are - honouring our unique experiences, without judgment, without trying to make them different or better or wish them away.

The gold is life, it's adding life to you, you to life. It's the missing component that's been knocking on the door.

If we can stop struggling against our struggles for a moment, we might be able to greet what's actually there, rather than what we imagine is there.

This is all so worthwhile, because when we find the gold in the dross,

it changes us.