Parthena Black - The Other Side: What If It Was Always Easy?

Today's daily e-mail from The Universe prompted a bit of contemplation:Would it be as much fun, Parthena, if you never stopped laughing? If there were never any clouds? If you were never challenged? If you were never alone? If you never heard the whole truth when it hurt? If you always knew what would happen, what to do, and where to go?Or would you be like, "Beam me down, Bro!" Abraham-Hicks also brings this up when referring to the Art of Allowing Both are elaborating on the concept that difficult times make us who we are. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." I agree with this to a large extent. I've survived many challenging experiences and have been able to draw upon them not only to get through present challenges but also to help others personally and professionally. My experiences with physical disability and grief have given me an understanding of what the hospice patients I work with deal with so that I am better able than someone who has never been there to empathize with them. Some of these challenges have also turned out to be "blessings in disguise" and a great deal of my writing is based on these experiences. Without them I'd have a bit less to write about, especially since I'm not a fiction writer!I do see one pitfall - the danger of becoming jaded or indifferent. For instance, the person who consistently gives to others but does not receive the same in return when they themselves are in need may eventually isolate themselves emotionally from other people, refusing to trust and enter into friendships or relationships. A negative cycle of belief is created when one works toward changing this expectation only to have yet another hurtful experience come along that proves the original belief "right."This leads to very deep negative beliefs that are very resistant to change even with concentrated effort and then of course, the Law of Attraction would continue to bring this type of person into our lives. I'm at a loss to determine what, other...