How to turn bad situations to your advantage

“Don’t waste your suffering”

I love an inner jiu-jitsu move—a way to turn life’s shit into manure.

Here’s one from my friend and meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein:

Don’t waste your suffering.

Next time something “bad” happens, instead of squelching it or wallowing in it, try something radical: use it as an opportunity to wake up. To be mindful.

As soon as you make this move—journalistically investigating the physical sensations and mental activity associated with emotions like anxiety and anger—you’re no longer owned by those emotions.

Of course, the hard part is remembering to do it. 

Which is why Joseph is always coming up with little slogans (or phrases or mantras) to help us not to forget. 

So don’t waste your suffering. Unwanted experiences are inevitable. But every argument, every stubbed toe, every unpleasant email—they can all be turned into opportunities to train in mindfulness and resilience. 

Listen to Joseph dispense this and other wisdom bombs on my podcast today.

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