The mind’s resistance to pain only amplifies it.
Imagine you're in a dark room, and you've stubbed your toe against the corner of a heavy piece of furniture. Ouch! It hurts, right? Now, think about what happens next. Your mind starts to focus on that pain, magnifying it, intensifying it until it feels like it's consuming your entire being. You might even find yourself unable to think of anything else but the throbbing ache in your toe. That's what happens when the mind resists pain—it only makes it worse.
Think of it like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. The more you push it down, the more force it exerts against you, until eventually, it bursts out of your control, splashing water everywhere. Similarly, when we resist pain, whether it's physical or emotional, we're essentially pushing against a force that only pushes back harder, causing more distress and turmoil.
But why does the mind resist pain in the first place? Well, it's a natural instinct. We're wired to avoid pain because, evolutionarily speaking, it signals danger. However, in our modern lives, not all pain is a threat to our survival. Sometimes, it's just a part of the human experience—a signal that something needs our attention or a lesson waiting to be learned.
Consider the analogy of a muscle being stretched during exercise. Initially, it might be uncomfortable, even painful, but that discomfort is essential for growth. If you resist the discomfort, if you try to avoid it by not stretching the muscle, you'll never build strength or flexibility. The same principle applies to emotional pain. If we resist it, we deny ourselves the opportunity to grow and learn from our experiences.
Moreover, when we resist pain, we often end up creating more suffering for ourselves. Imagine you're holding onto a burning hot pan because you're afraid to drop it. Yes, letting go might cause momentary pain as your hand adjusts to the change in temperature, but it's far less painful than continuing to hold onto something that's causing you harm.
So, what's the alternative to resisting pain? Acceptance. Instead of fighting against it, we can choose to acknowledge the pain, sit with it, and allow it to run its course. It's not about reveling in suffering or pretending everything is fine when it's not. It's about recognizing that pain is a part of life and that by accepting it, we can find peace and even strength in the midst of it.
In summary, when we resist pain, whether physical or emotional, we only make it worse. Like trying to hold a beach ball underwater, the more we push against it, the more force it exerts against us. Instead of resisting, we can choose acceptance, allowing ourselves to experience the pain fully and ultimately finding peace and growth in the process.
Now, here's a question for you: In what areas of your life are you currently resisting pain, and how might practicing acceptance instead lead to greater peace and growth?
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
