The Psychology of Pain and Suffering

Sadly, one of the only certainties in this life, is that we will all experience pain.

And when it happens, pain is something which leaves us in no doubt at all about it’s sheer, all consuming, power.

For example, think about when something good happens to us. Of course, we feel a sense of pleasure or joy for a moment — but, often, we also may feel a strange sense of doubt at the same time too. Thinking “does this really make me feel good?” “Is this really as pleasurable as I think it is?” “Am I really all that happy?”

Similarly, this happens with almost any kind of sensory / intellectual / emotional stimulation. We suppress — repress — deny — and ignore so much of what is truly going on in our hearts, because, in essence, these things are like a painting on the wall; if we look at it . . . we can judge it’s beauty; but, if we choose to look elsewhere . . . the painting is very easy to simply ignore.

Yet, when it comes to pain, the experience is totally different.

Here, there are no conflicting emotions — and no way of us ignoring what is happening (Especially if the pain is severe enough)

In short, the pain is just there. Whether we like it or not.

And, even if we try to think of something else — a single wrong movement, and the pain will grab our attention again. As if we are completely slave to it’s whims.

So, what does this mean?

Can it really be the case that pain is the only true reality in this life? And that suffering is just about the only thing we can ever be certain of? (Even more so than love or joy)

Maybe

However, we must also remember that every single pain we have faced in our life so far — assuming we survived it — we have learnt to either overcome, or cope with.

In other words, though the pain was undeniable — and, at times, felt unbearable — somehow, we had the inner strength to “keep on keeping on”. And in the end, the pain either disappeared — or, was brought under our control again to a more manageable level.

So, while pain and suffering may well be among the only real guarantees of being alive . . . an even greater certainty is that, as long as we are alive, there will always be something else within us that can help us to transcend the reality pain.

Perhaps we could call this courage. Or inner strength, Or resilience.

Or, perhaps it is something beyond labels.

More like a core self — which exists as master, even of the most severe experiences that this life can bring us.

Thank you for reading

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