Your relationship to your problems

Obstacles and problems are a part of life. True happiness comes not when we get rid of all of our problems, but when we change our relationship to them, when we see our problems as a potential source of advancement in Krishna Consciousness, opportunities to practice patience, and to learn to depend on Krishna more and more. Certainly some problems need to be solved. Many others, however, are problems we create for ourselves by struggling to make our life different than it actually is. We can become more peaceful by understanding and accepting the inevitable dualities of life—the pain and pleasure, success and failure, joy and sorrow, births and deaths. Problems can teach us to be gracious, humble, and patient. Problem and difficulties are considered to be so important to a life of growth. It is felt that when life is too easy, there are fewer opportunities for genuine growth. When you spend less time running away from problems and trying to rid yourself of them— and more time accepting problems as an inevitable, natural, even important part of life—you will soon discover that life can be less of a battle.