Painkillers for free

It is often stated that we have more in common as people than what separates us. One very obvious example of this is the experience of pain and suffering. It seems to be an inescapable part of being human. The measure of how happy or great a life might be could be measured by how much pain and suffering you end up experiencing and how you dealt with it. Some of our pain comes from our choices and other pain can be unexpected, that we have no control over. This type of pain can be the hardest, as it feels at times so unfair or uncalled for .In my own life I have had my share of hardships and difficulty. I know for sure when I look towards my future I can confidently expect some more. Here are four perspectives that can offer some comfort. I know how I approach and view my pain can have a big difference in the severity of the impact .

1) Accepting as a fundamental premise that I have a limited amount of control over people and situations, this ensures my expectations are more aligned with the reality of life.

2) If my suffering, or the suffering of people I care for is just a consequence of random and meaningless universe then for me it’s harder to accept. Knowing that behind all things in life there is a cosmic or divine force that is loving and meaningful can help put into perspectives some of the pain that feels so cruel and unjust.

3) Everything that happens, no matter how tough in some way can help me learn something. Something about others, something about myself, my pain can be my teacher.

4) Sometimes the greater the pain, the greater the sense of reward and gratitude you feel when you breakthrough. Suffering allows our joy to be intense.

Having an outlook that that gives one perspective doesn’t make the pain any less but at least it gives it a context that makes it meaningful. One of my favourite writers is Kahlil Gibran. When friends close to me having gone through tough times I have sent them this is passage from his book “The Prophet”. It’s both inspiring and true. So if you are going through a painful moment take comfort in the fact you not alone and that buried in the suffering is some kind of treasure waiting to be found.