You don't know the difference between ...what hurts and what feels good.

You guessed it. After the Christmas Truce of 1914, the First World War resumed. 

The temporary lull in fighting that occurred during the Christmas Truce was not a formal end to the war, and the conflict continued for several more years.

One day I'm playing soccer with you and the next day I'm trying to kill you.

Here are some of the major wars that have occurred in the past century.

• World War II
• the Korean War
• the Vietnam War
• the Gulf War
• and the Afghanistan War.

There have also been numerous smaller conflicts and civil wars that have taken place around the world that were not included in the list above.

The impact and consequences of war can be far-reaching and long-lasting, and the effects of war can be felt for many years after the conflict has ended.

I'm going to repeat the idea here because it is so profound and is not of this world. This is divine wisdom at its best.

Part 1: You don't know the difference between what hurts and what feels good.

Part 2: If you did you would choose what feels good every time. 

You're hit and miss. 

You're guessing.

You're winning percentage is appauling.

1. Work or school-related stress and workload.
2. Relationship problems or conflicts with friends or family.
3. Financial difficulties or lack of job security.
4. Health concerns or physical discomfort.
5. Poor customer service or subpar products or services.
6. Traffic, commute times, and transportation issues.
7. Lack of free time or leisure activities.
8. Political or social issues and injustice.
9. Environmental concerns or natural disasters.
10. Lack of personal fulfillment or meaning in life.

Part 1: You don't know the difference between what hurts and what feels good.
Part 2: If you did you would choose what feels good every time.

One path leads you into bankruptcy and the other path leads to solvency.

If you choose the bankruptcy path 50% of the time and the solvency path 50% of the time you're guessing.

Part 1: You don't know the difference between what hurts and what feels good. Part 2: If you did you would choose the solvency path every time.

I remember hearing Byron Katie say once when she was doing The Work with one of her participants...

"Honey, you've been holding on to these hurtful thoughts for a long time. Aren't you ready for the Truth?" 

"Aren't you ready to let them go?"

There's one part of The Work in the turnaround section where it asks "Who would you be if you couldn't think this thought?"

What thought? Thoughts about...

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Bullying
• Accidents
• Illness
• Mental health issues
• Loss of a parent
• Separation from a parent
• Natural disasters

Who would you be without your story?

Part 1: You don't know the difference between what hurts and what feels good. Part 2: If you did you would choose what feels good every time.

Everything is happening in your mind and then you project it onto your body or another body.

Your body is a communication device. It only follows the direction of the mind.

Once the life force leaves the body it's a corpse. It does nothing. It says nothing.

You're going to prove to yourself today that you don't know the difference between what feels good and what hurts.

You're going to upset yourself today and this is proof that you don't know the difference between the two.

Otherwise, why would you deliberately choose to think or do something that hurts you or someone else?

You can run but you can't hide from this idea.

Your ego does not like a word that I've written here. 

It feels threatened because it knows that the "story of me" is a fabrication of details. It's a made-up sense of self.

I struggle with this same idea. I think about all the times when I have gone out of my way to hurt myself.

I obviously didn't know the difference between what hurts and what feels good. 

So I go out and bang my head against another brick wall and then I blame all of you for the knot on my head.

If you get this one idea and start to truly embrace it your life will change miraculously with no effort on your part.

If you reject the idea you will continue to suffer.

Anytime you're unhappy you can simply ask yourself this question. "Do I know the difference between what hurts and what feels good? Get quiet. This is a meditative practice. Notice the answer that spontaneously arises for you - not the one that you make up.

Here's a clue: If you're hurting you don't know. If you feel good you're on the right track.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's idea: The Numbers Don't Lie