Difficulties

“No situation can be difficult of itself; it is the lack of insight into its intricacies and the want of wisdom in dealing with it, which give rise to the difficulty.” ~ James Allen writing in Byways of Blessedness.

The very first time I read this passage it was in a little book called Day By Day With James Allen, written by Vic Johnson, another student/teacher of the study of the mind. It’s a really neat little book with a passage for every day of the month taken from the writings of James Allen and interpreted by Vic Johnson. If you’re interested in acquiring it, you can go here: www.AsAManThinketh.net. The proceeds from the sale of the book go to an organization called “Sylvia’s Foundation”, a non-profit that helps women in need. An added bonus in the back of this little book is a printed copy of the entire essay by James Allen called As A ManThinketh. This was my first introduction into the study of the mind and how we, as humans, think. I still read it every day!

So, getting back to the quote I began with, what James Allen is saying is that with the proper knowledge, no situation is difficult. In this essay, Byways of Blessedness, he points out how situations are commonly thought of as difficult by a child that, to an adult, seems like no problem at all. The only difference is the knowledge and experience that the adult has and the child lacks.

My first thought when I read this passage for the first time was, “Wow...that’s so true”. I couldn’t help but remember all of the things over the course of my life that I thought were insurmountable tasks until I learned HOW! For instance, when I was ten years old, I just could not SEE how I would ever have a driver’s license and drive a car!

This also reminds me of one of the funniest times I remember with my youngest son, who was always a worry-wart. He was about nine years old and it was only a few weeks after summer vacation had begun. He looked very glum, sad and weepy one day and I asked him what was wrong now...he had sort of habit of crying over ‘stuff’ and it wasn’t always apparent why! His answer was classic: “I’m afraid to go to school next year because I don’t know enough to be in the fourth grade!”...this was followed by some extremely earnest tears! 

I couldn’t help but laugh at him at first but then I realized how logical it all seemed to him. Of course I explained how everybody would be starting out with the same knowledge that he had and they would all learn what they needed to learn during that school year just as he had done in his previous year of school. What a look of relief on his face!J

Well?...are we not ALL intimidated or frustrated by a situation that we don’t understand how to deal with? Are we not all guilty, at some point, of trying to avoid a problem that seems unsolvable to us? I’ll wager, if you’re honest, you’ll say, “You bet!”

Now when I perceive a difficulty in my life, or hear of one from someone else, I am able to understand at least this much...the only real problem is the lack of “wisdom in dealing with it”. What a priceless bit of insight!

There is another quote (I’m not sure with whom it originated) that fits here as well...”Do the thing you fear and the fear will disappear”. I like the way it rhymes; makes it easier to remember. I have found this to be entirely true as well. 

Anytime I feel anxiety (a form of fear) of any sort, I stop to figure out why I’m feeling that way. If it’s because there’s a task that I’ve been procrastinating about getting done, I realize right away that I’ve put it off long enough! After accomplishing whatever it was I was avoiding, I feel so much relief that I want to throw a party!

James Allen says that we should greet our difficulties with gratitude as each time we are faced with and overcome a difficulty we have grown and developed our knowledge base. We have improved ourselves. We have expanded.

Here’s to your expansion!

Cindy Hurd