This document provides prompts for an exercise about learning from past and current difficult situations. The exercise asks the reader to 1) describe a past impossible situation and what was learned, 2) describe a current impossible situation, 3) consider what deeper understanding could be gained once the current situation is overcome, and 4) how bringing more self-compassion could help with learning and growth. It concludes with a quote about finding salvation through loving one's suffering rather than resisting or fleeing from it.

1. Exercise:
Finding The Gems

2. 1.Take out your notebook and describe, in
detail, a past incident that seemed
impossible at the time it occurred and that
now you feel you learned important lessons
from.
Exercise: Finding the Gems

3. 2. Now describe, if there is one, a current
situation (practical or emotional) that also
seems impossible or you can’t see your way
through.
Exercise: Finding the Gems

4. 3. Assuming you’ll get through this, what
could you learn from the current situation?
What deeper understanding will you have
once you have gotten through the
situation?
Exercise: Finding the Gems

5. 4. Is there any way of bringing greater self-
compassion to the situation that can help
you learn and grow?
Exercise: Finding the Gems

6. “You know quite well, deep within you, that
there is only a single magic, a single power,
a single salvation…. and that is called
loving. Well, then, love your suffering. Do
not resist it, do not flee from it. it is your
aversion that hurts, nothing else.”
- Herman Hesse, Wer lieben kann ist
glücklich. Über die Liebe.