Could Pain Be Preparing You for Something Greater?
Who said that moving pain to purpose is always easy? It’s a tough journey, but it’s totally worth it. In life, nothing goes as planned, and even though we might make out every detail, life is about unexpected plot twists.
Since we were kids, we tried to plan out our lives. We thought about who we’ll marry, the number of kids we’ll raise, the home we’ll build… but, in reality, all these plans mean nothing but faith that everything will work out. Faith is what helps us move forward and not lose our hope, in a world where it is so easy to be put down.
Life is full of losses, betrayals, heartbreaks, and accidents. In these moments, the illusion of control vanishes, and we are left to face the pain. Unfortunately, these unpleasant moments of our lives never come with warning signs. They appear in different forms at the most unexpected times. For example, some diagnoses can change everything, relationships can fall apart, and a job can be lost at the toughest time. So, pain is part of our lives.
Even though we are taught to avoid pain and ignore it. Sometimes, it feels impossible to move forward. Then, we tend to bury our feelings with a lot of work and try to distract ourselves from reality. The truth is that we need to understand that pain is not a punishment; it’s a messenger.
The Role of Pain
Finding purpose in pain doesn’t mean pretending everything happens for a reason in the moment it hurts. That’s not real positivity. You need to learn how to lean into the discomfort and listen to it deeply. This way, you’ll be able to discover its meaning.
People need to stop avoiding feeling overwhelmed and simply own their pain. Denial can be helpful for the moment, but it can cause serious problems in the long term. Some of the most common health problems that appear because of denied pain are: anxiety or panic attacks, depression, sleep disorders, and social isolation.
Realizing what’s the real reason behind your pain is essential because it can cause you to reflect and make new life choices, and most importantly, inspire you to seek out healthier habits and relationships.
Read on and discover the most meaningful ways to help you find purpose in your pain.
5 Ways to Turn Suffering into Strength
1. Find solitude
During hard times, it’s essential to find someone you can speak to. However, keep in mind that even if we feel the need to distract ourselves from the discomfort, distraction can easily turn into a trap. It creates a temporary separation from those overwhelming feelings, but it’s not the best way to deal with pain, especially if we are considering the effects in the long term. If we run from our pain, we may miss the opportunity to understand why we feel the way we do.
We are all tempted to pour out our feelings to another person, but in reality, leaning into the discomfort and accepting it can bring us awareness and a greater insight about the pain.
2. Let things go
To evolve, you must let go of what no longer serves you. Stop holding on to certain beliefs because they keep you in place. Keep in mind that the best act of courage is to release a thought that is keeping you safe and preventing you from growing.
You need to be open to transformation and embrace the change. For example, during the death of a loved one, it can be extremely hard to deal with that initial shock, and the pressure can feel like a heavy weight on our chest. But in reality, all that pain and pressure are creating an opening for you. All you need to do is acknowledge it and accept that there are things in life you simply can’t change.
Pain creates a great opportunity to live in the moment and acknowledge all the beautiful things we have in our lives. Don’t forget that there’s always something to be grateful for. You just need to be courageous enough to connect with divinity on a deeper level and transform all those negative feelings into power. Oh, and take your time! Transforming pain into purpose is not that simple for everyone.
3. Let yourself feel
Before you let things go, you need to let yourself feel everything. You need to live with the pain and acknowledge it before you’re ready to allow yourself to heal. You can go through grief, anger, and disappointment, but all these overwhelming feelings are part of the process.
Most of us feel to experience strong feelings, but if you let yourself cry when you need to cry is part of becoming the best version of yourself. Remember that some of the ugliest emotions carry the most important truths. Feeling everything deeply doesn’t mean that you’re weak; it means that you are mature enough to live your emotions and set yourself free.
4. Find a connection
Pain is usually lighter when it’s shared. So, even though you feel the need to isolate yourself from other people, create a beautiful connection with God. Establish a prayer routine, start journaling your feelings, and strengthen your faith.
If you totally isolate yourself, you’re most likely to end up suffering even more. Find a trusted friend, a family member, or even a therapist. Talking about what you experience can be your first step towards healing. If you don’t want to speak to any of your close friends or relatives about these problems, you could also join a support group. Seeing and feeling that you are not alone can be extremely relieving.
Many people find comfort in writing down their feelings and thoughts. So, we recommend you start journaling. If you need a period just by yourself, make sure to include prayer, paper, and a pen in your routine. Write down whatever crosses your mind, and you’ll see how all those negative thoughts that used to bring you down are now, slowly, fading away, as you release them.
On Amazon, you can find a lot of options, but we definitely recommend The Five Minute Journal. This gratitude journal helps break the cycle, feel more present, and boost happiness, starting with just one page daily.
5. Channel the pain
Last but not least, learn how to transform the pain into purpose. Use your feelings to create something that helps others. Make art, volunteer, or advocate for others, and you’ll see how you’ll transform into the strongest version of yourself.
It’s essential to know exactly what to do with your pain and never let it put you down. And don’t get us wrong, you don’t need to become a famous speaker. If your story helps one person, that’s the purpose.
Before leaving, let us know in the comment section found below when was the last time you felt overwhelmed and didn’t really know how to handle your pain. Feel free to share your experiences and help others in need. We’re all in this together.
Loving and being loved are also a big part of the healing phase. So, if you liked this article, here’s what to read next: What the Bible Says About Love Might Be Different Than You Think
