Embracing the Gift of Pain

Yes, despite the irony of the statement, ‘the gift of pain’ pain can be the most incredible gift you ever receive in your life. Though it puts us through discomfort and suffering but if you take your time to understand the origin of your pain and work through it, you will come out the other end as a better and stronger person.

Pain is an undeniable reality. Though some of us try to escape it while others behave as if it does not exist, the pain eventually catches up to us in one way or another. From the physical throbbing of a wound to the heartache caused by betrayal or heartbreak, pain permeates our lives in various ways.

There are two types of pain: physical pain and emotional pain. Physical pain is a signal to your nervous system that something may be wrong in your body. The source of physical pain is normally known and it can easily be treated. Emotional, psychological, or mental pain on the other hand is a hurt or pain that originates from non-physical sources. It sometimes cuts even deeper than physical pain and can leave us with life-long scars.

Emotional pain can hurt so deeply that it is almost impossible to heal or overcome. This is because it changes our view of life and shatters us on the inside, destroying our ability to trust, love, or even relate to people on a day-to-day basis. Emotional pain, though unfortunate, is most of the time inflicted by those closest to us, those whom we trust with our secrets and our lives. We also never see it coming most of the time and the surprise increases the pain we feel.

The tricky thing with emotional pain is that it does not have a physical source. You feel it in your heart and soul and it is ingrained in your being, Depending on the level of pain, your tolerance, and your willingness to ask for help, this pain can either make you or break you. Some people cannot handle the pain and they end up harming themselves or ending their lives leaving a vacuum in their family’s lives that cannot be filled.

Some become so angry and lash out at those who hurt them by inflicting physical or emotional damage on them. This can have devastating effects on the parties involved and usually does not solve the issue but ends up making it worse. Others will wallow in their pain and end up being depressed and cut off from reality; extreme depression can lead to suicidal thoughts. Depression also has devastating health consequences on your body and overall health.

While we cannot predict or control pain, we can determine our response to it. Yes, pain will come, we cannot avoid it or pretend it doesn’t exist but how do we respond to it?

First, you should allow yourself to feel the pain. Don’t ignore the pain or try to pretend that you were never hurt in the first place. You will continue to unknowingly foster the pain in you and it will slowly change your attitude, demeanor, and your relationships with others. Denial also fosters bitterness and anger in a person causing them to lash out at anyone and everyone around them. Take time to accept your feelings of hurt and pain.

Second, as much as you should feel your pain, you shouldn't wallow in it. Yes, you have been hurt but life doesn’t stop because of that. Like it or not, life continues and you have to move on. So, you have to get up, draw whatever strength you have, and work on the feelings of pain that are troubling you.

Thirdly, go see a therapist or your religious leader or talk to someone you still trust to help you navigate the crazy web of emotions you are going through. Prayer, meditation, and reading and reflecting on scriptures also work for those who are religious. It can be quite difficult to open up to someone especially when you have lost your ability to trust but you have to so that you can begin to heal.

Through this process of speaking about your pain, you will slowly begin to heal. This is the stage where you start to realize maybe that pain was a gift in disguise. That pain may have been just what you needed to become stronger, learn a valuable lesson, change your mentality, or even cut ties with someone who would have brought nothing but chaos and disorder into your life. As you begin to heal, you will discover the purpose of that pain you went through and who knows, it might have been a gift.

Throughout the healing process, forgive and let go of those who hurt you. Even though you might not understand why they did it, just forgive them, Remember, forgiving them is not for their benefit but yours. It frees you from the burden of walking around with anger, resentment, and bitterness in your heart.

Even as you forgive, remember to learn your lessons. Be wise and smart enough to not put yourself in situations that will cause you to be hurt a second time. Also, remember to carefully choose who you closely associate with, and above all don’t inflict pain on other people.

Indeed, the journey of healing is often fraught with uncertainty and anguish, yet it is in the depth of our suffering that we find the courage to confront our demons and embrace our imperfections. Through the gift of pain, we learn to surrender to the flow of life, embracing both the good and the bad that life has to offer.

In conclusion, the gift of pain, while often shrouded in discomfort and despair, serves as a beacon of hope in the human experience. It is a testament to our resilience, our capacity for growth, and our innate ability to find meaning amidst the chaos. Thus, let us not shy away from the depths of our suffering, for within its embrace lies the promise of redemption, the strength, and the beauty of our shared humanity.