Pain Makes Us Believe

If I hadn’t before, I’ve recently come to appreciate these words: “I’m tired of the way that things have been…you break me down, you build me up…Pain, you make me a believer.” (Believer, Imagine Dragons 2017) It speaks of rising above pain and realizing (as I often say), it’s the struggle that makes us stronger. Pain: It makes us believers in many ways. We might have a ‘come to Jesus’ because of pain and suffering (sorrow is painful but can be motivating). We realize something needs to change. Pain means something is happening or needs to. Tears over a young-adult-child leaving home, tears over a spouse leaving home, problems at work, the way it feels when we dress ourselves, how it feels when we look in the mirror, or how we feel after sleeping; all of these can be painful. Everything from a headache after reading to a painful left foot because of the way we sit while driving; pain indicates change. The question: Is the pain a good sign (think growing pains), or a red flag that something is wrong? The answer to that question is particular to the individual and circumstances. When deciding whether to embrace the pain as a token of personal growth, or when to seek professional guidance to alleviate it, ask yourself whether or not it’s really pain. Healthy “pain” might be better described as “struggle.” Struggle is how I describe facing your fears, following through with your commitments even when it’s difficult and inconvenient, continuing to work on whatever is challenging (exercise, family relationships, education), whether it’s easy or difficult. Never give up struggling to do what you know is right, even when you feel discouraged. Struggling is good. That’s good pain. Even bad pain can bring about good end-results IF you correct whatever is causing the acute symptoms. It can make us aware of weaknesses and danger. This applies to the pain in my cervical spine as well as to the occasional arguing among my kids during the long hours together during the weeks of summer. Acute pain indicates something is out of balance. Sharp, pinching, and throbbing pain can be red-flag-calls for attention to a matter. My children need to spend more time together, practicing healthy (sometimes guided), communication. My neck needs to be looked at more closely to determine the next steps to correct what’s causing acute pain. We all experience pain from time to time. Whether it’s physical or emotional, ignoring any serious issue won’t fix it. Turning away, leaving it alone, and paying no attention won’t correct the source of pain. Become educated. Seek guidance, as needed. Discover what to change. Now, change. Struggle, and let the healing begin.

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