Suffering is a bridge

Hey family. I trust that you are going forward with your journey towards going your own way. 

The quote that says, "suffering is a bridge," comes from the innovative James Baldwin.  I saw this segment some time ago, and there's a part where he identifies suffering as a bridge that sparked my attention. 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION: When you think of the word suffering, how would you define it? Even along with the emotions, what is the overall meaning for you?

As I've reflected on my life, I once saw suffering as if it had to be a lingering component, to some extent. There was some happiness, but I still would not EXPECT better. So, the suffering became a friend you would always allow in. Now, my identification of suffering WAS many. Here are a few I'll transparently share. 

1. Having a poverty mindset (always expecting the bare minimum)

2. Settling for toxic relationships (Same spirits, just different bodies)

3. Settling for an unfulfilling job/career (Hating it, yet never believing you could change it)

4. Trauma, trauma, trauma (I said it three times because those three things were exactly that: TRAUMA). 

I shared these because I know that for me, I used to see suffering as a BAD thing, when really, it was an OPPORTUNITY for me to show up for myself and TRUST that I could go beyond that side that I once knew. I had to KNOW that I could find my way over. 

KNOW THIS: You don't have to identify your suffering as good or bad. IT JUST IS

As a child, I was very curious. Going to church, I would see people going to the altar, crying, and looking so worn down. I was young and wished I had everything those people needed to stop crying and just be happy. 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION: What life would that be like? If everyone had their problems solved just as fast as they were created? 

Then, you have to say to yourself, even though we are Gods children, we couldn't remain naive. Eventually, you have to learn your way to crawl, to walk, and eventually to run. God didn't create us to just suffer. This world has just surrounded us with so much noise and distractions. Its like being in the same room, but you're all in different worlds. 

So, back to the church...

When those moments of suffering would take place in those people's lives, they came to a place to gain some peace and clarity in their minds towards their situations. And again, me being young, I didn't quite understand why the pain seemed so overbearing. Why did it seem so heavy? Even seeing my mother cry would instantly make me weep, like I could feel her pain so easily. Did God make our hearts that pure as children? I think so. 

Getting older in age, you're introduced to a world where crying is seen as a weakness, sharing the emotions of your suffering isn't as welcomed, because you are taught to be STRONG. 

In what ways did holding it in HELP you?

But who knew that the TEARS you shed were a sign of a release? From movies to songs, the people around you, everywhere, have been taught that expressing yourself is a weakness. So the suffering becomes like a new resident in your home, inside of you. Sometimes, you'll look at moments in your life, think about what you're going to do with it, until you just choose to leave it where it is. You walk by it, but you won't walk TO it. 

I can relate to that because sometimes, it seemed too hard or too much to face. It seemed like you had to go through those things alone. AND SOMETIMES YOU DO. Suffering is an opportunity to go within yourself and test your own strength. It can be a moment where you can re-evaluate your life, ask questions that spark the inner being, and give you that faith in knowing that suffering is only temporary. 

This isn't one of those messages where I am just being cheesy with the positivity. I am saying that it is crucial to keep yourself LIFTED. Everyone is going through something in their lives that no one knows about. I think the only difference between them and people who choose to remain in the suffering is that they KEEP THEMSELVES LIFTED. 

This is here to EMPOWER your mind, LIFT your spirit, BUILD your faith, and STRENGTHEN your vision for your life. When I had moments in my life where I felt that the suffering was too much to handle, it was in my mind first. I knew that life came with some challenges, but I needed to know how to keep my faith up and cross that bridge. So, even when I was in it, I allowed myself to cry, I allowed myself to feel, SO I COULD MOVE. 

Affirmation:  I AM THE GOD TO THOSE PROBLEMS; THEY ARE NOT A GOD TO ME. 

Its like teaching yourself how to have a new set of eyes so that you can really SEE beyond what you SEE. Going within yourself begins with feeding yourself with gratitude constantly. I used to feel sorry for myself because I would allow the suffering to be more powerful than my own ability to turn that pain into power. 

How did I learn to trust myself in suffering? The best way I can describe it is like hearing that a voice in your mind that is positive. Sometimes, you think that its not real, because its not as loud. To me, it gets louder as you grow. As you water you, what you once considered suffering becomes an acknowledgment for the feelings that were present. 

Heres a definition that I connected to:

SUFFERING: to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it

The power word, to me, is THROUGH. You must allow yourself to go through it. With knowing that there are others that are going through something as well, what can we all do? Bring light to one another. We can bring light to one another by first being a light to ourselves.  

One of my favorite actors is Robin Williams. One who created movies filled with impactful characters, powerful perspectives, and a way to open your mind and find the JOY. One quote that I love from him states, "The things that we fear the most have already happened to us."

 I know that suffering in your mind can feel like you don't know how to escape, and thats not true. What is true is you knowing that "this too shall pass". 

Here are some impactful things you can do to shift your perspective, acknowledge what is happening while having a great expectation:

1. KNOW THAT YOU ARE EVERYTHING GOD IS- If you are speaking anything negatively to yourself, that is what your reality WILL be. Look up different sources of inspiration like Reverend Ike, Joe Dispenza, and even quotes that you may hear from someone who inspires you. Create a daily mantra so you feel what you say. Remember, your word is your WAND. (Florence Scovel Shinn)

KNOW THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, YOU ARE IDENTIFYING IT AS YOUR TRUTH. 

2. Acknowledge your feelings, and know that you can change them, because they are only that, FEELINGS. It does not have to be your reality. 

3. Build your faith- know that building your faith is starting from the ground up, like building a home, but within yourself. 

Getting to where you desire to be does NOT come easy. I guarantee you that it IS WORTH IT. 

For every tear, every pain, every loss, 

you will receive tears of joy, healing, and gains of all you could ever imagine when you cross that bridge. 

HEALING REFLECTION: In the moments where it seems like suffering in the moment is too heavy, in what ways do move forward? How are you speaking to yourself? How on you speaking towards the situation?

Thank you for loving you, freeing you, and saving you. 

Thank you for choosing you. 

I'm glad you're still here. 

-Kendreka 

James Baldwin on how suffering is a bridge:

https://youtu.be/WfU9J-h6JxE?si=FDKKH7MaX4GwVNmf