Suffering, or dukkha, isn’t just about the obvious bumps and bruises life throws at us. It’s more like a constant hum of unease that underlies every joy and triumph. Three flavors of dukkha pop up in Thich Nhat Hanh’s telling:
• The suffering of suffering – the sting of pain, grief, illness or loss.
• The suffering of change – when good things slip away, like watching a summer blockbuster fade from memory or seeing childhood friends drift apart.
• The all-pervasive suffering born of clinging and conditioning – that nagging sense something’s missing, even when everything “looks” fine.

At the heart of Buddhist thought, craving and ignorance feed this cycle. Grasping for pleasure or pushing away discomfort only tightens the coils of dissatisfaction. It’s like trying to plug leaks in a sinking boat with your fingertips; the harder you press, the more water seeps in around the edges.

Rather than shrugging shoulders and accepting defeat, Thich Nhat Hanh flips the script: mindfulness becomes the life raft. By shining gentle awareness on each twist of pain or pang of longing, there’s a chance to loosen dukkha’s grip. Breathing in, breathing out, gives space to see how attachments take shape—whether it’s doom-scrolling headlines about climate shifts or replaying yesterday’s awkward moment.

In today’s whirlwind—where mental health conversations have finally broken through stigma walls—this teaching feels especially timely. Recognizing suffering as a shared human knot doesn’t wallow in despair. It invites a collective “aha” moment: the same energy that fuels craving can be redirected into compassion, understanding and mindful action. That’s where the real healing starts.