THE source of all our pain is . . .

There is how we wish things were and how things actually are. No matter how badly we want things to be a certain way, they will continue to be what they are, not what we wish they were.

We can wish hopefully, complain bitterly, cry sadly, and blame angrily.

We can do all that and more. Still, things will be what they are despite any wishing, complaining, crying, or blaming we might do.

All our (non-physical) pain comes from wanting something to be different than it is. Look under the hood of any pain you're experiencing now. Search under the feeling for the source. In that pain, you'll find a desire for it to be different than it is. That's what's causing the pain.

We can address pain like this in two ways:

1. Make the situation different, closer to how you want it to be.
2. Accept the situation, make peace with it, and build from there.

The first option is possible sometimes. The second is possible at all times.

The time is now. Do the work.