"Pain.. (Part I)" [ 12 | 13 | 2009 ]

So as time and life pass me by like the snow blowing across Minnesota 52, a thought passed through, and caused me to realize a few things about pain and suffering. Part of the outlook comes from my own experiences and how I've tried to deal with pain in the past. And some of my thoughts come from outside sources. Books, conversation, input, advice, etc.

However, I do not claim to have all the answers. I have not read hundreds of books on pain, I have not gotten a doctorates degree in psychology, nor have I even begun to grasp the extent of the depth of such an emotion as pain. However, I have thought much about the subject, and here are some jumbled thoughts that I present humbly. Take it for what it's worth;

My opinion.

"I have found that pain is inevitable." - Michael Smith (lol)

You can’t run away from it. There is no possible way to live a life without it. Sad, but true, and after thinking it through, this makes reasonable sense in my mind. But as the series of thoughts began to sound of in my head, questions also arose. What are we to do then? How are we to deal with it? Is there one right way eliminate pain?

Well, there exists no "right" way of eliminating pain, because that is quite impossible, in my own experience of trying. But the answer to that particular question lies in the question. The only way to deal with pain is to do just that: deal with it. To cope. To make due. It sounds unfair, because it is, to a certain extent. But humans weren't made to be without pain. Tough luck, right?

Not so much.

Pain is a reality, and we are paying the ruthless price of being blessed with such an incredible life support system that alerts us to nearly every sensation, whether good or bad, mental or physical, emotional or spiritual. Yet does this mean that we should just ignore it and let it affect our lives while we act like it doesn't exist? By no means, silly! Dealing with pain begins with confronting it.

Face your fears.

You can do it.

Now let's dig deeper [ .. continued in part II ].

- Michael Stephen