By: Richard Carlson, PH.D
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 awakening, opportunities to practice patience, and to learn. Perhaps the most basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems are the best places to pracÂtice keeping our hearts open.
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. Inner peace is accomÂplished by understanding and accepting the inevitable contraÂdictions of  life-the pain and pleasure, success and failure, joy and sorrow, births and deaths. Problems can teach us to be graÂcious, humble, and patient.
 In the Buddhist tradition, difficulties are considered to be so important to a life of growth and peace that a Tibetan prayer actually asks for them. It says, “Grant that I may be given apÂpropriate difficulties and sufferings on this journey so that my heart may be truly awakened and my practice of liberation and universal compassion may be truly fulfilled.” It is felt that when life is too easy, there are fewer opportunities for genuine growth.
I wouldn’t go so far as to recommend that you seek out problems. I would, however, suggest that if you spend less time running away from problems and trying to rid yourself of them Âand more time accepting problems as an inevitable, natural, even important part of life-you will soon discover that life can be more of a dance and less of a battle. This philosophy of acceptance is the root of going with the flow.
