Pain is a Part of Growth

Life can sure deal us some painful situations. Relationships end, kids grow up and leave the nest, job s disappear, and the list goes on. Pain is inevitable. Its going to happen. The Buddhists have an interesting teaching on emotional pain. They teach that emotional pain is an opportunity to grow. "Because I feel pain, I know that I am alive" is one of the teachings. To truly feel that hurt is important because it presents an opportunity to gain strength and self esteem. There is a sense that you have been through painful experiences and survived them all. In therapy I talk to to clients about re-thinking their pain as a chance to become strong. After all, if your depressed, you must know what it is like to be happy. If you have been happy in the past, you will be again. The problem as I see it is people are inpatient with their hurtful experiences. I can understand that they want them over quickly, and get past it but in reality it takes time to heal. The healing can be a time of reflection when you allow yourself time to learn from the hurtand allow yourself to feel it. This will enable you to have a sense of strength and find the ability and confidence that you can overcome hurtful times whenever they arise.