These inspiring words for the highs and lows of life are worth sharing again today.
“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight….
They are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at a standstill and balanced. “
~ Kahlil Gibran, “The Prophet”
There is so much wisdom in these words. They are worth coming back to again and again.
For me, when we see that sorrow and joy are inseparable, and come from the same sweet well of our being, there comes acceptance… and life flows more easily.
Love is the essence.
When we acknowledge that sorrow and joy are a part of life and let go of attachment to either … we discover the inner space and connection to Source in our middle ground.
Namaste
The Prophet is such a wonderful work of wisdom, it is good to dip back into it time and again. Thanks for sharing this passage Val 🙂
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Definitely worth a dip, dive and submersion on a regular basis to connect with what matters. Thank You Robert 🙂
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Sorrow is the price we pay for joy.
C. S. Lewis as the film Shadowlands concludes:
“Why love if losing hurts so much? I have no answers any more. Only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I’ve been given the choice: as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety, the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That’s the deal.”
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Thank you Nancy for this lovely insight from CS Lewis. There can’t be one without the other… and we have a choice.
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My most visited passage in The Prophet! This has got me through some tough times. It really helps keeps things in perspective.
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It draws me back too Eliza. Keeping things in perspective ….. and not forgetting the journey we are all on. 🙂
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Beautiful post, Val and supported by wonderful replies above.
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And thank you for adding yours Paul 🙂
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This is beautiful, Val. Thank you. xo
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Its good to share rich goodness 🙂
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Hi Val. That’s very true. Bit of a bummer to think on it when you’re experiencing joy, though! I’d rather think ‘yay, something lovely’ than ‘hmm. Sorrow’s just around the corner’. Wouldn’t you? 🙂
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I know what you mean Jane. Its easy to cling to the joy and not want to experience sorrow. Yet, on this journey, accepting both ends of the spectrum as part of life and knowing it is always flowing can be freeing. xo
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I agree Val. Have a lovely day x
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Beautiful and wise words. Love what Nancy shared as well.
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Me too! Thank you Suzi 💛
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I am so grateful that through your revisiting of the Prophet, I am reminded and given the opportunity to revisit too!
Beautiful passage and such a compassionate reminder to find the wholeness in everything.
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“Find the wholeness in everything.”
Love this Louise!
Thank you for adding to the inspiration. xo
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Can’t even begin to tell you how often I have quoted this piece. Hands down my favorite part of The Prophet. So poignant and powerful. It is a good bit like someone stepping up behind you and taking half the load off your back.
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I love that metaphor Noelle. It does soothe and uplift doesn’t it! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
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The words of this masterpiece never fail to move me – timeless, beautiful wisdom for every woman and man. H ❤
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Indeed Hariod ❤️
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Wonderful message! Touches me in my core ❤
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Thank you Tiny. It touches deeply. ❤️
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Love it, Val!! That kind of acceptance can work miracles!! Many blessings for a wonderful weekend ♡
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Thank you Lorrie. Acceptance of it all is the way to inner peace. Have a lovely weekend too!
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Very beautiful post Val. True, Love is the essence.
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Thank you PD. I’m grateful for your presence and appreciation 💛
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My pleasure and gratitude.
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true. and good food for contemplation Val
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Glad this resonates. A good place to contemplate 💕
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yes 🙂
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Sound words of wisdom
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Thank you Derrick 💛
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That is very wise, even though it sounds strange at first. But you’re right, joy and sorrow do come from the same place, and we need to embrace them both. Isn’t it odd how so many of our human struggles come our inability to understand ourselves and others? And our need to control things that are uncontrollable?
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Wise words my friend. Thank you 🙏💛
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