The Angel of Struggle

This story comes from Swami Kripalu. Let it bring some understanding to all of you who are struggling in life right now.

“This world is a battlefield. Anyone born has to be a warrior, whether you’re a boy or a girl, man or woman, young or old, king or beggar, literate or illiterate, saint or sinner, our major dharma or duty in this world is to fight.

The compassionate Lord has one special Angel to help with our fight. This is the Angel of Struggle. Just as our food wont digest properly without exercise, so too our life wont develop properly without struggle.

The outward form of struggle may appear cruel, but its inner nature is not malicious. She enters our life without invitation and does whatever she please, but she blesses us with true knowledge, the knowledge we each need at that time in our life.

How skillful she is! What a beautiful sculptor”

~ John Mundahl “Poems, Prayers and Stories to End a Yoga Class”

True knowledge lies deep within the struggle. When we are struggling we are wrapped up in our pain, and in our mental anxiety.

When you notice this inner turmoil, instead of feeding it with more catastrophic thinking, find a way to listen beyond the pain.
Talk it through with a friend or counselor, or perhaps journal about it. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Take time out without distraction and allow yourself to be with the situation, knowing that there is an important message for you from the Angel of Struggle.

Listen ….  It may be a call to be true to your own intuition instead of fitting in with other’s expectations.
It may be a demand to care for yourself and change your lifestyle.
It may be a plea to let go a past that no longer serves you.
It may be a cry to free yourself from a toxic relationship or job.

Become the warrior that you were born to be, and honor your true self with kindness.

Namaste