Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional

We all want to be free to emotional pain and suffering, and unfortunately most of us will do anything to prevent pain from occurring in our lives.  These distractions usually turn into addictions on some level.  Anything taken to the extreme even if it's healthy isn’t good for us.  For whatever reason, this society rejects pain as being a necessary part of life.  God forbid we should say we aren’t doing well when someone asks us how we are.  Eastern religions such as Buddhism tell us to move toward our pain, to be in the moment.  This is the way we learn about ourselves and the only way we can be free.  We learn what is working in our lives, what isn’t working, who is good for us, who isn’t good for us, actions that need to be taken, boundaries that need to be set, changes that need to be made, etc.   When we don’t dive into the pain, we live with an underlying chronic discomfort, restlessness and anxiety.  It gets repressed, and eventually we get depressed if we don’t deal with it. We lose our peace, our joy.   Pain is a natural part of life.  The deeper we can be with and feel our pain, the deeper our capacity will be to feel joy.  Pain has many causes such as losing someone we love whether it be through a breakup, death, moving away, or a divorce,  getting disappointed when things don’t work out the way we would like them to, when we are fired or laid off from a job, moving out of our parent’s house, to name just a few.  Any life transition brings grief whether we are aware of it or not.   When we don’t feel the necessary feelings that life brings, they don’t go away.  They stay stuck in our bodies and actually drain our energy.  Ironically, by being present to ourselves and our lives, we move through the pain quicker.  Most people think it’s the opposite.  That if we repress or avoid our pain, it will go away.  This is what actually leads to suffering, which is long term chronic pain.  In life, pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.  I love this saying because it reminds me what is true.  We have a choice to suffer.  What a powerful statement!  If only we actually lived this truth, our lives would be so much more joyful.  Feeling our feelings is a sign of self love.  When we love ourselves enough to feel our feelings, whatever they are in the moment, we will learn our lessons quicker, and experience more joy, peace and love in our lives as well as be free of fear and trust that our lives will unfold for the highest good.  We won't die if we feel our feelings, we will truly live!  Have the strength and courage to do so.  Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.