Life’s Ultimate Dichotomy

The Cycle of Longing and Loss

Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.

Madeleine L Engle

Its sad and scary but it’s the truth. Sometimes we have to endure the hardship to cherish the good. Not a sentiment liked or appreciated by anyone for sure.

This quote by Madeleine is thought provoking. Why do I have to bear hardship only to appreciate the goodness of life unfortunately as human we can’t help it. When we have all the goods, our mind is elsewhere, thinking about other goods. It brings us back to the truth that we are never in the present moment. So, when we have what we have we don’t appreciate it and once its gone, we realize what we had. Probably by that time, its  gone.

And then in the words of Madeleine: Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.

This cycle of longing and loss can feel like a vicious circle, where we force ourselves to experience darkness just to appreciate the light.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. The key to breaking this cycle lies in mindfulness, in being present in the moment. By being mindful, we can appreciate what we have when we have it, rather than longing for it when it’s gone.

Mindfulness in Interactions Whether it’s with your partner, children, or colleagues, mindful interactions are crucial. Being mindful means paying attention to your feelings, listening carefully, and responding thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively.

Pause and Reflect In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of the present moment. By pausing throughout the day to practice mindfulness exercises, you can stay grounded and focused.

Observing Thoughts Mindfulness isn’t about eliminating thoughts, but rather observing them as transient mental events. It can be challenging at first, but with gentle persistence, it’s achievable.

One Task at a Time In today’s fast-paced world, multitasking has become the norm. However, doing too many things at once can be distracting. By focusing on one task at a time, you can ensure that you give it your full attention.

While it’s true that hardships can make us appreciate the good times more, we don’t have to plunge into darkness to enjoy the light. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to appreciate the present moment and the blessings it brings. After all, the present moment is all we truly have. So let’s cherish it, let’s be mindful, and let’s stay away from the darkness.

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