We know the danger of escapism. We know the pain of being around a fair weather friend. We feel the frustration of spiritual bypassing. Many of us have a fairly good grasp at this point about the fact that running away from pain and from things that scare us is not the way to create a fulfilling life. But we need to be aware that there is danger at the other side of the scale as well. There is danger in becoming attached to pain, unwilling to leave it. Teal has named this danger “Endurism”. Endurism is equally as unhealthy as escapism. It is a coping strategy.

Kuan Yin's Mantra (c) 2002 Lisa Thiel