In reading a copy of M. Scott Peck’s – The Road Less Traveled and Byeond, in his chapter on Learning and Growth – I discovered this quote by Soren Kierkegaard, who said: “A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a man to look within. If it succeeds, then there, within him, is the beginning of his learning.”

Is suffering and pain some sort of necessary teaching tool to help us become more acquainted with who we are? The learning though only comes when we look within. Most times this is difficult because then we are forced to confront our shadows – which during the light of day we constantly try to avoid. I always tell people: you are made up of dark and light. However you are not a whole person until you accept ALL of you. The pain comes when you try to disassociate yourself from that part of you that procrastinates, or is full of pride, lacks patience, is unforgiving. Yet it is you and if you don’t accept you, who will?

Of course I am a thinker of sorts and most people are quick to tell you that you are too obsessed with yourself. I believe that there is balance. I feel that you owe it to your very existence to understand why you do things the way you do and most of all when things happen – to ask the most maddening question in the whole wide world: WHY? And while much of life will remain a mystery I feel certain that there are sometimes quiet answers lurking in and around our states of consciousness and unconsciousness. Most times we shrug it off and think we’re self indulgent.

Just remember this is YOUR journey. You’ll be traveling with you for some time yet. Get acquainted – it’s just impossible to run away from yourself!