In the world of mindfulness, the encouragement is to not immediately run from discomfort if it arises in your experience. This is important on the path of finding ease within dis-ease, and making friends with the parts of ourselves we’re most suffering from.

However, this can sometimes be difficult, and can feel as though we’re filling our attention with pain and stress.

Next time you’re working with discomfort, focus on the strength and goodness that must be present for you to turn toward the discomfort in the first place. Maybe you acknowledge the courage it takes to do that. Maybe you tune into the curiosity that you’re bringing. Maybe it’s appreciating the vulnerability that it takes for you to do something like this.

Turning toward discomfort requires the best parts of ourselves. Don’t forget to appreciate those parts.