Pain and Suffering - How Do YOU Manage Pain and Avoid Suffering?
Pain and suffering is a universal problem.
According to Buddhist philosophy, "Life is suffering" is one of the Four Noble Truths.
But most of us will do almost anything to deny, avoid, overcome and not live with pain and suffering.
Some of us manage to use positive and socially acceptable ways to avoid facing pain and suffering.
Do you believe that you have it so together that you would have no problem facing pain and eliminating suffering? Then notice how you respond to the following questions:
Most of us use our own unique combination of activities to soothe our fears, lessen our stress and avoid feeling pain.
Often this is good and keeps us in state of balance and keeps us feeling okay.
Sometimes we use our favorite activities to numb us and keep us safe so that we do not have to face our own pain and suffering.
The next time you see someone who is suffering and addicted to pain or pain killers, take a moment to recognize that somehow their own life supports have been taken from them.
Have empathy and understanding rather than judgement and criticism.
Think to yourself, "There but for the Grace of God go I.
" We are all vulnerable to pain and suffering.
Some of us have been taught better coping skills.
Some of us have more willing people to lean on.
But we are all vulnerable when life circumstances change.
The time to develop strong coping skills is when you are feeling good and surrounded by people and activities you love.
Build on what you have, enjoy what you have, and appreciate the good now.
How are YOU managing your own pain and suffering right now?
According to Buddhist philosophy, "Life is suffering" is one of the Four Noble Truths.
But most of us will do almost anything to deny, avoid, overcome and not live with pain and suffering.
Some of us manage to use positive and socially acceptable ways to avoid facing pain and suffering.
Do you believe that you have it so together that you would have no problem facing pain and eliminating suffering? Then notice how you respond to the following questions:
- Do you take regular vacations to get away from your daily routines and escape from the stressors of work.
How would you respond if you could not take a vacation for the next 10-15 years? - Do you regularly exercise to keep your body fit and release the stress in your mind and your life? How would you respond if you were unable to exercise again for the next month, 6 months, year or longer?
- Do you regularly go out for dinners, meet your friend for drinks, attend concerts or ballets or movies or theater? How would you respond if you could never again go to see your favorite form of entertainment?
- Do you regularly watch TV? What if your TV broke, you could not afford to buy a new one, and you could never again watch your favorite TV shows?
- What if the person or people you love most in the world were taken away from you?
- What if all your current comforts and life supports were removed through some horrendous disaster?
Most of us use our own unique combination of activities to soothe our fears, lessen our stress and avoid feeling pain.
Often this is good and keeps us in state of balance and keeps us feeling okay.
Sometimes we use our favorite activities to numb us and keep us safe so that we do not have to face our own pain and suffering.
The next time you see someone who is suffering and addicted to pain or pain killers, take a moment to recognize that somehow their own life supports have been taken from them.
Have empathy and understanding rather than judgement and criticism.
Think to yourself, "There but for the Grace of God go I.
" We are all vulnerable to pain and suffering.
Some of us have been taught better coping skills.
Some of us have more willing people to lean on.
But we are all vulnerable when life circumstances change.
The time to develop strong coping skills is when you are feeling good and surrounded by people and activities you love.
Build on what you have, enjoy what you have, and appreciate the good now.
How are YOU managing your own pain and suffering right now?
