Thank You For Being Such A Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People
Pam is talking joy with Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D. is the author of Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People. —The Talking Joy Podcast Interview with host Pam Rotelle Robertson
“When life is easy we don’t really have a motivation to grow and change, and when we get challenged we are forced to grow and change.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, MARK ROSEN:
Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D. is the author of Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People. He lives with his family in suburban Boston and is currently a faculty member at Brandeis University, where he teaches nonprofit management. He also consults with nonprofit organizations and serves as a nonprofit board member.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
With wisdom and humor, Thank You for Being Such a Pain offers gentle and compassionate guidance for understanding and healing relationships with difficult people. By embracing four fundamental premises and putting into practice the author's many helpful and practical suggestions, you'll acquire the skills and insights necessary for turning around even the most troublesome relationship.
What you need to keep in mind is that:
(1) nothing in your life happens randomly and your difficulties have a deeper purpose;
(2) frustration, and even emotional pain, are as necessary for your personal and spiritual growth as love and joy;
(3) transforming enmity and completing unfinished business may be the most important skills you can learn in life; and
(4) when you make an effort to work on your inner self, your outer relationships will be transformed.
You can purchase the book HERE.
PRAYER FOR DIFFICULT RELATIONS
Try this prayer by Mark from his book and published in Spirituality & Practice.
Difficult Relations
There is a story about the mystical teacher Gurdjieff and one of his disciples. The disciple, who lived in the ashram, was strongly disliked by the other disciples for a variety of reasons. When he left, Gurdjieff actually tracked him down and paid him to return, telling the rest of the disciples that the ostracized man was one of their most important teachers.
The next time a difficult person comes into your life, it might be helpful to tell yourself something along the lines of "(Sigh) Here comes another one. God, I ask you to guide me. You have sent this person to me for a reason. Help me to know what it is, and help me to cope successfully."
To Practice: Use Rosen's prayer the next time you are with a difficult person.
— Mark I. Rosen in Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People
Mark I. Rosen. “Difficult Relations.” Spirituality & Practice, www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/practices/view/25451/difficult-relations