[blockquote source=”Pema Chödrön”]”Our first impulse about how to get out of an uncomfortable situation is usually an impulse that keeps us stuck in the uncomfortable.”[/blockquote]

I watched a young woman at the gas pump this morning.

In one hand, she held the pump handle and with the other she struggled with her phone.

“We keep having this same discussion,” she shouted, exasperated by the moment, “but, no matter what, nothing ever changes.”

I felt badly for her, as nobody ever wishes to suffer – and yet, inevitably we create our own suffering, by pulling ourselves back into the very same patterns which brought us here in the first place.

My goodness, how easily we are deceived – strengthening old habits that offer us no relief.

Someone criticizes you, or takes credit for your work – and, just like that we are hooked; caught up in that endless cycle of trying so desperately to get away.

“Yet we don’t stop—we can’t stop—because we’re in the habit of associating whatever we’re doing with relief from our own discomfort.” – Pema Chödrön

But, what if there was another way? A momentary pause – just long enough – to disentangle ourselves from that hook?

My darlings, stomping one’s feet might feel good at the time – but, rest assured it has nothing to do with our present moment. To find true relief, we must dig deeper into the root of our suffering.

Only then, can we ever really know the true nature of relief.