She writes about having a conversation with someone who expressed the idea that 'suffering is necessary for change', and Robin protested that idea. She went on to state further that she didn't think that hitting rock bottom is a pre-requisite for change, but suffering does seem to play in...Why bother to change if you're already happy?
Here are my thoughts on that. For me suffering is a matter of perception. It's a relative point of view. Say I am in a relationship with someone (it could be a marriage, a friendship, or a business relationship) and I am feeling some conflict arise. Maybe I'm miserable and maybe I am truly suffering emotionally.
Why am I suffering? The answer is because I choose to. If I am looking at this conflict from a certain perspective, and am suffering as a result--true, I CAN use that to take steps to make change. In this scenario, "Suffering as a catalyst for change", is the way I have chosen to play this round in the game. But it isn't ALWAYS the way I play it. Sometimes I create change in my life with what seems like no effort at all, and certainly little or no suffering. And I'll tell you a secret. The easy 'non suffering' version, is my preferred method for creating change. I think the 'suffering' comes from resisting the change, which is inevitable.
So my belief is that suffering is only ONE of the methods we use to inspire change.
Maybe you see yourself differently. Maybe you stop focusing on what you think is wrong, and have begun to see what is so very beautiful about yourself. Maybe you realize that the family member you could never agree with is really expressing your same viewpoint, but using different words--and now you comprehend that you've been in agreement all along. Or maybe the guy at work, who you always thought was a real jerk, isn't really. And in fact, maybe you suddenly see qualities in that guy that you admire.