Pain is that unpleasant sensation that aches within, making you feel powerless and hurt.
With pain come times of hardship, grief, suffering, and distress. It’s when the darkness takes over and that ray of light seems impossible to reach.
Pain means you’re wounded, frozen – not knowing what to do or where to go; or even stuck, hoping that whatever you experiencing would just end.
What if I tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way…
That pain can be useful, and that it’s what makes us grow. Into becoming more emotionally intelligent and self-aware.
What if we thought that our pain is actually necessary to guide us to our ultimate purpose?
“We are not meant to stay wounded. We are supposed to move through our tragedies and challenges; and to help each other move through the many painful episodes of our lives. By remaining stuck in the power of our wounds, we block our own transformation. We overlook the greater gifts inherent in our wounds—the strength to overcome them and the lessons that we are meant to receive through them. Wounds are the means through which we enter the hearts of other people. They are meant to teach us to become compassionate and wise.”
– Caroline Myss
Let’s Face it – Pain is Inevitable!
As human beings, we are wired to avoid pain in most situations. Especially in today world, we often come across many people who think expressing emotions is a sign of weakness.
No matter how many people tell you to hide your emotional pain, doing that will only hurt you more!
Neglecting pain will only hinder you from moving forward. Owning up to what you feel is the only thing that’ll get you through that hurt emotion. Being aware of why you’re hurt, understanding it thoroughly and then accepting that pain; That’s the first step to healing for many.
Whether it’s a breakup, a close person walking away from you, a great loss – perhaps of a loved one or a job – or a traumatic experience, know that pain is bound to happen and there’s no way you can keep it at bay. There’s one thing and that’s for sure, you can either allow it to define you or you can learn from it and dissociate from that event, gaining a wealth of wisdom and experience.
To face pain is to accept the lesson (yes it’s always a lesson) you went through and turn it into a source of empowerment.
Okay, but how…
With Pain Comes Strength, Resilience, and Growth
Personally, I’m a very strong believer that with every painful situation we experience, we get to see how strong we actually are. Yes, we’re suffering, but we still manage to get up every day no matter how bad it feels.
Pain to humans is like fuel gas to a car, it’s essential to rejuvenate your energy. It breaks you to build you up; It also makes you acknowledge the power within you to overcome stressors and mental obstacles.
With time, you’ll eventually come to see that surviving that ONE thing that caused you extreme pain makes you capable of surviving anything that may come after that, no matter how severe it is.
Post-Traumatic Growth
Mental health professionals call this: post-traumatic growth. It’s defined as the “experience of individuals whose development, at least in some areas has surpassed what was present before the struggle with crises occurred,” according to Trauma Recovery.
In fact, research depicts that 30-70% of individuals who experienced trauma report positive change and growth coming out of the traumatic experience. Growth here is a process that appears in many forms whether it’s finding strength, understanding your abilities and gaining confidence, or altering your priorities.
In addition, your views about relationships often change in times of pain and trauma, along with how you view yourself and aspects of your life.
Adversity provides you with a unique perspective to life. Only then will you be able to identify what truly matters to you and what doesn’t.
That’s what makes you grow.
With pain, the voids between your broken parts are filled with resources and tools that prepare you for whatever comes your way next.
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