How to cope with suffering? Ethical Realism
Not to sound all negative and nihilistic, accepting the reality that there is no hope or salvation, only suffering does not mean we should live as primitive animals. Instead, we should attempt to live happy lives within the context of our limited existence. This means we both accept that suffering is inevitable, but at the same time, when it is realistically possible, strive to show compassion to alleviate that suffering whenever possible. I recommend that one try to live by the words of Reinhold Niebuhr and his philosophy of Ethical Realism, which many of you know as the Serenity Prayer."[God] Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference."BTW - I have placed the word God in brackets for those of you who embrace a spiritual existence and believe in a higher power. But this concept of ethical realism is universally applicable, so even atheists, agnostics, deists (those who believe in a higher power that created the universe but reject divine intervention), etc., can embrace it.
