| "> | | | | Of course it would be unrealistic to think that |
| Pain, suffering, and happiness are three rather | | | | merely changing our thoughts about pain will make |
| different words to be linked together. Everyone | | | | it go away. Pain, whether sudden and unexpected, |
| desires happiness, but this has different meanings | | | | or chronic and long-term, is a fact of our human |
| for each of us. Furthermore, stress and pain are | | | | experience. However it is wise to note that |
| two major barriers between us and our goal of | | | | practicing stress management techniques such as |
| happiness. | | | | meditation can assist us in working with our |
| We all know that some kind of pain, physical, | | | | medical advisors to achieve a more positive pain |
| mental, or emotional, is one of the inevitable facts | | | | experience. |
| of life. When we are in pain our first response is | | | | And now, what about happiness? It has been |
| to somehow get rid of that pain. This is not | | | | stated that we often experience happiness in the |
| always possible. Still, our minds tell us that the less | | | | midst of suffering, and pain in the midst of joy. |
| pain we experience, the happier we are. | | | | As we become mindful of the place of pain and |
| Although we may not want to admit it, pain plays | | | | suffering in our lives we move towards a place of |
| an important role in our lives. Pain is the body's | | | | acceptance of what exists, which leads us to |
| messenger which alerts us to the fact that some | | | | distance ourselves from that which exits. This |
| part of our body needs immediate attention. Pain | | | | distancing is the freedom that leads to true |
| is also a teacher as we learn to live with it and | | | | happiness. |
| come to make the distinction between pain and | | | | Finding happiness for ourselves, or even knowing |
| suffering. Thus we begin to understand the | | | | what happiness is, can be problematic. True |
| statement that pain is inevitable, but suffering is | | | | happiness may not be what we think it is, for it is |
| optional. | | | | often hidden deep within, and we may never |
| This leads us to another way to look at pain. This | | | | before have realized how much happiness and |
| different view of pain and pain control, is based | | | | potential happiness we have inside ourselves. |
| on the concept that pain reduction can be | | | | Through meditation, stress management, |
| achieved, not by escaping from pain, but rather in | | | | exercise, journaling, and other mindfulness |
| escaping into it. | | | | endeavors we must seek and find that hidden |
| A large portion of what we feel when we feel | | | | well of real happiness that will fill us with a deep, |
| pain is not true pain at all but suffering, that is our | | | | inner glow and enable us to view pain, suffering, |
| mental response to pain, which is really our | | | | and happiness in new and unexpected ways. |
| resistance to the pain. What this means is that | | | | Yes, pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional, and |
| suffering, which feels the same as pain, but is not | | | | true happiness is frequently hidden deep within |
| pain, increases and decreases in direct proportion | | | | ourselves waiting to be discovered. This is the |
| to our resistance to pain. Thus, the less we resist | | | | challenge each of us must face as we learn to live |
| pain, the less we suffer, and the less total pain | | | | meaningful, productive lives in spite of the pain |
| we experience. | | | | that is an unavoidable part of every life. |