07/22/2025
While suffering is a normal and necessary part of the human experience (how else do we surrender to the Divine?), so many of us suffer far more than we need to as we get trapped into chronic thinking, holding on tightly to past experiences and obsessively imagining future challenges.
To reduce suffering, try these simple yet powerful practices…
1. Movement/Exercise/Dancing - especially in nature (hiking or biking on trails; swimming in a lake or ocean; dancing in a forest), but playing a sport or hitting the gym is pretty amazing too... as is dancing in the kitchen.
2. Focus on the HEART. Close your eyes, relax your breathing and simply focus on your heart. Practices like HeartMath are amazing and can explain the science behind the intelligence and wisdom of the heart.
3. Practice DAILY GRATITUDE. Say out loud 3 things grateful for in your life every morning (can be the same or can change); then at night bed, write down and say out loud 3 things that you’re grateful for that particular day. Do this for a month and see what happens…
4. Be of SERVICE. Volunteer or help a neighbor/friend/family member out. Be conscious of committing sins of your time and energy to serving others.
5. Connect to the Divine (not outside of, but within you). God’s light, love, and wisdom reside inside of you as you are not separate from the Divine— you area unique expression of the Divine. See that yourself and in others. Separation causes suffering.
6. (BONUS): Listen to great music that makes your cells, your bones, your soul vibrate with joy, kindness, and compassion (for me it’s artists like Bob Marley, Danit, U2, or indigenous flute music)
Hope this helps… have a happy, healthy, grateful, and joyful day ✌🏽😊🙏🏽
