The True Test of How Much We Suffer

I hope you all had a nice week. As I contemplated my message I began to think about how pain turns to suffering.  I happen to be dealing with a nagging physical injury at the moment and a person very close to me is dealing with extreme emotional pain which got me thinking… How we handle pain becomes the true test of how much we suffer.

Practicing this in our bodies during our yoga practice is a powerful, tangible way to explore the balance between pain and suffering. We all experience discomfort but it becomes true suffering when it takes away from everything else on the mat. When we notice something is not exactly how we want it to be we can get swept up in thoughts of worry that it will never change or we avoid the discomfort by taking refuge in the mind. Both of these strategies cause unnecessary suffering. I shared the first quote at the beginning of class and then the poem. We don’t usually have control over the pain we experience, but we have some power over how much we suffer. 

“The antidote to suffering lies not in the avoidance of pain, but in our ability to meet it with compassion, curiosity and acceptance.”

Pain, when will you end?Yes. I know.I cannot push you away.You have a reason to be here.Something to show me.Pushing me towards healing, integrating, or making a change.Today I experienced a lot of pain. And with myself, I stayed.I see you.

Tuuli Vahta