Thursday, May 8, 2025
One of the many benefits of spiritual practice is becoming slow to anger. Many of us are quick on the draw, ready to pounce without a second thought. Spiritual practice gives you “second thought,” which is really pause. I like to think of it as space in a doughnut. Awakening is the increase of that middle space. Time slows down to catch your reactivity. No pouncing. You learn to drop the hot potato when it starts to burn.
Suffering is what you do to yourself. The outside world is constantly offering you “bait.” Will you snatch it up, run with it, and let the toxicity pump through your veins? Cut off in traffic – pounce. See a photo that incites you on Facebook – pounce. Wondering why you weren’t included – pounce. Knowing your ex is having such a great time without you – pounce.
If you pick up the bait, you’ll run. You’ll play with it in your mind, convincing yourself of how “awful” it is; how rude people are; or how unfairly you’ve been treated. You’ll run to the water cooler to tell your colleagues how much of a bitch life is. You’ll get a rise out of it. Why hurt yourself like that?
One day, you’ll realize the present moment offers you a pro and a con. Have you paused enough to see the silver lining, waiting in the second thought? There is some benefit offered to you, now. Do you take the bait of “this sucks,” or do you take the blessing of “I’m OK”? There’s an upside. You can take it if you pause.
Taking the bait is hook-line and sinker. You sink into despair, poised to pull the trigger at the slightest provocation. Giving it a second thought will save your life. Spiritual practice gives you that pause. Try it.