There do come to us in our lives, for any one of innumerable possible reasons, certain conditions that challenge the very fabric of our being. Certainly, none of us would think to ourselves, "I wish upon myself these difficult circumstances," and yet the truth is it is through and because of these same unwanted moments that we are granted the opportunity to meet parts of ourselves...

If you haven't noticed this yet about yourself, it's easy to see in others: we each seem to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. The nature of this burden may change with age. When young, we feel the weight of having to choose a direction in life. As adults, we feel encumbered by all the perceived requirements of an active life: trying to control events...

How can someone be given so much and -- rather than being grateful for the abundance of these gifts -- be so negative over a single element in the midst of them? Closer examination of such a situation, and the inconsolable level of self that gives rise to it, may show us that we have more in common with this discontented character than not. It's impossible for us to...