Pain Vs. Suffering

There is an important distinction between Pain and Suffering.

Pain is in essence unavoidable.  At some point in our life, we will experience pain.  This can either be physical or emotional driven by injury, illness or trauma.  In other words, this is a sensory experience, tangible and immediate, triggered by external conditions.

While pain may be unpleasant, it serves to sharpen our focus on what matters, and staying safe.

Suffering instead is staying in the pain, even when the actual pain has passed.  It’s somehow a choice (most times unconscious) to remain in a place of unhappiness replying over and over the painful events from our past or anticipating potential future pain. Suffering is a mental process and can trigger feelings of sadness, desolation, grief, or sorrow.