Controlling your response pt. 2

 Pain is inevitable, suffering is a choice.


We are meant to experience pain.  Pain initiates change and change is what keeps us alive. Learn to embrace pain in life. Embracing and expecting pain and change to happen throughout our lives allows us to simply live and never become overwhelmed by the many obstacles that come our way.


Refusing pain and change is what creates suffering. You suffer because you do not want to accept the changes that are happening in your life. It is extremely difficult to accept pain and change because our bodies and minds crave comfort, patterns, and routines in life. We want 

familiarity because it allows our minds to not have to work as hard.


Change and pain spark new processes within the brain which lead to work and difficulty. Life no longer is easy because rather than being able to figuratively shut off your brain and coast, you have to be conscious when simply living.


This is why every time we experience a tough life event such as a break-up, a move across the country, or a loss of a loved one, it takes a long time to adjust. Your brain is consciously working to find new patterns to replace the ones that had been formed before.


Suffering is the way our minds interpret the pain. Minds that are unfamiliar with pain typically suffer more than those that have dealt with more pain. Dealing with pain takes practice. It is hard to emotionally interpret everything that is happening with so much change and discomfort. Over time, one can get used to the feeling of pain. In some cases, people will even begin to seek pain and discomfort because they are familiar with the results after everything is over.


Figures such as David Goggins, put themselves through intentional pain to build figurative calluses on the mind so when faced with unexpected pain, it is much easier to handle. Goggins is so familiar with pain and the effects it can have on strengthening the mind, that he willingly puts himself through daily trials of pain and discomfort. These trials give him an edge due to others’ unwillingness to do the same. They allow him to deal with emotions much more easily and avoid suffering.


Embracing change.


Cynics view all change as for the worse. They have a terrible time seeing the positive growth potential in change and therefore don’t allow their minds to have any hope in any situation. Suffering is much more prominent in cynics because their minds are too emotional. They only allow themselves to see the highly emotion-based negativity in every situation. An undeveloped, cynical mind is highly emotional and, in turn, prone to suffering.


The path to breaking out of cynicism begins when you learn to embrace change. Learn to see change in any aspect as an opportunity for something new to come into your life. Change allows potential for growth and as humans we all crave growth. 


Recognize that there is growth in change. See the discomfort as a light guiding you to a new behavior. Feel pain as a strengthener. The more you experience pain, the easier it becomes in the future. Be emotionless in the face of adversity. This is how you avoid suffering.


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