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46 EASTERN HORIZON | FEATURES

Our great assumption — which is the their teeth and wept and accused the But, to put them into action, it’s
cause of much of our dissatisfaction universe of being “senseless” because been my experience that we first
— is that things will remain the it didn’t abide by this wishful conceit. need to see their truth. We need to
same. Of course, we know our lives experience first-hand the changing
will change, but we rebel, anyway, So, when our lawnmower breaks we nature of our lives, as well as our
when they inevitably do. don’t think, Yes, this was inevitable. attachment to our desires.
Everything changes.

When we get that promotion, we Unfortunately, knowing these
cling to the good feelings, hoping Instead, we kick and scream and concepts intellectually is not
that they will last forever. But, those bemoan our misfortune. Instead, we enough — you must also know
good feelings eventually fade away. think, Now I have to waste my time them experientially. In order to see
When our lawnmower breaks down, getting this stupid thing fixed. This is these concepts working in your
we try to push away those negative going to take all afternoon. My plans life, you need to develop the skill of
feelings, hoping they will disappear. are ruined! mindfulness.
But, those negative feelings, too,
eventually fade away. We may not believe that things will Mindfulness can be developed
remain the same, but we certainly through mindfulness meditation.
It is in the clinging to and act like we expect them to. Download an app like Headspace or
the pushing away that we experience Waking Up to get started.
dissatisfaction. These reactions are, The road to resilience
in a sense, denials of reality. For this Life changes, constantly. But it I’m going to be honest with you —
reason, it’s not the events themselves doesn’t always change in our favor. this is no quick fix. But the more you
that cause our dissatisfaction but our journey down this path the more you
perspective toward them. The Buddhist concepts will move through the world with
of impermanence and non- ease, regardless of outside forces.

Jacob Rubin, I think, put it best: attachment, when operationalized,
Humans … dreamed up a thing help us deal with these changes Isn’t this what you’ve been looking
called “permanence,” a word with no by making us more at ease with for? EH
actual referent, and then gnashed whatever happens.