Overcoming the Ouch!

Life is going to give us ouches. Pain is part of life, but suffering is chosen. Pain often makes others uncomfortable. They feel for us and want to take away the pain. Or it makes them uncomfortable so they do anything and everything to shift the conversation, or the focus on your pain to something else, because they can't stand in their discomfort. Don't misunderstand me. We are all doing the best we can in this world and your intentions to try and take away someone's pain are coming from your goodness. But in my case, what I wanted and needed was for someone to acknowledge the pain I experienced sucked and be willing to sit in the suck with me and let me feel all of the emotions that came forward. Only then, could I access the tools I have to process pain. When we deny someone access to their pain, we are sending the message hurting is not okay. We will all experience pain, but suffering is repeating the pain loop over and over again. The purpose of pain is to draw our attention to something - whether it's a blister or a broken heart. Acknowledge it. Feel it. Move through it. When you experience an ouch, I hope you have people to sit n the suck with you. I am blessed to have people in my life who will. Kathryn