"Fatigue begins when difficulty discourages us; but when difficulty reminds us of our purpose, it can give us a more flexible and elastic quality—we are less likely to shy away from difficulty and more likely to see it as a source of personal growth. When we forget this purpose our difficulties overtake us and become an object of resentment. Instead of being able to focus on the positive purpose of our difficulties, we become completely taken over by the difficulties themselves, which is the negative aspect of suffering. When we hold onto our difficulties we soon fall into despair and depression. We become so obsessed with our own problems that we are unable to reflect that others are going through much greater difficulties than we are."
Healing Relationships: Buddhist insights for enduring happiness
by Lama Choedak Yuthok
Lothian Books, Melbourne, 2005
Page 209
