[Ssigros]

Have you ever been really good for a while, longer than you usually are, and then all of a sudden you're not after getting triggered out of the blue?? It makes you realize you haven't dealt with every little thing thoroughly when you thought you finally got to a good place, and you're left wondering if you're ever going to get on the other side of the past.

[PumpkinPieHead]

I'd say that you really don't ever get to the "other side". You will have to manage and cope for the rest of your life.

[Skeezyks]

The Buddhist nun, Pema Chödrön, has a nice analogy she uses. In Buddhism the journey toward enlightenment is often characterized as crossing a river on a raft to get to the other side. But how Pema has written she likes to think of it is that, halfway across the river, the raft overturns dumping us into the water. And we have to learn to float.

Another way Pema puts it is we have to learn to be "comfortable with uncertainty". As "PumpkinPieHead" wrote.., you really don't ever get to the "other side". But what you can do is to learn to float... to be comfortable just with the way things are in the present moment. It has been said, many times, enlightenment is a journey not a destination. My personal view, at least, is that the same could perhaps be said of recovery from mental illness.

[Gus1234U]

'buddy floating'...

[Ssigros]

Originally Posted by PumpkinPieHead

I'd say that you really don't ever get to the "other side". You will have to manage and cope for the rest of your life.

Yeah, it seems you're right. I guess it was wishful/false hope, more like a trickery of the mind, to be able to rid ourselves of the pain. Thank you for helping me back to reality.

[Ssigros]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

The Buddhist nun, Pema Chödrön, has a nice analogy she uses. In Buddhism the journey toward enlightenment is often characterized as crossing a river on a raft to get to the other side. But how Pema has written she likes to think of it is that, halfway across the river, the raft overturns dumping us into the water. And we have to learn to float.

Another way Pema puts it is we have to learn to be "comfortable with uncertainty". As "PumpkinPieHead" wrote.., you really don't ever get to the "other side". But what you can do is to learn to float... to be comfortable just with the way things are in the present moment. It has been said, many times, enlightenment is a journey not a destination. My personal view, at least, is that the same could perhaps be said of recovery from mental illness.

I love that analogy! It's perfect to remember and to relate my mind, body, and soul to. I will be writing that down, folding it up, and keeping it for safe keeping. Thank you again, Skeezyks!!!