We can always think of something that happened which seemed to be just “horrible”. It appeared that the effect was only to create difficulty in the worst way. This is because when we see things we look at how they affect us individually and those close to us. This allows us to divide the reality that we see, in our effort to understand. In this moment we forget who we really are. We become, in essence, individuals who are not connected to each other.

This is really not who we are. In fact, truly, we are very much connected. Even though we may only be aware of our connection of those close to us, indeed we are connected to everyone else. We can easily be reminded when we smile, just to show our enjoyment on the inside, usually there is a return smile awaiting us. This smile can become an epidemic. It is this spread of the smile, like wildfire in a dry forest, that show and indicates our connection with each other.

When we honor our connection and stop dividing our reality we are able to see that the way we are affected depends on how we look at it. Indeed a broken leg becomes a miracle, if it came as we were sliding to the edge of a 500 foot, and it got caught up in the stump of a tree, stopping the slide. The effect of the event is completely dependent on the context.

The event in our life, that seems to be devastating, may be beneficial if it prevents us from having another experience which has the potential to be twice as devastating. When we remember who we really are in the unity of all through our easily recognizable connection, then the devastating event becomes part of a greater event. In so doing it enables us to see that what appeared to be a devastating occurrence indeed had the potential to prevent us from further devastation, and if we are able to accept that possibility we are able to jump up a level in understanding. We are able to learn the lesson that would have been provided by the second devastation, now without having to go through it.

This jump of a level in understanding is really the pearl that emerges from the gravel of the horrid experience. Our rule, therefore, has to be to question ourselves and to ask if there is an unseen benefit to be derived from the experience. How can I uncover the hidden benefits?

A brief moment of dis-association might be a great benefit in allowing for better vision in seeing the positive outcomes from the situation. Once you are able to find one, the second and the third are not far away and thus allows you to change your perspective all together.