Why should i suffer

Suffering is generally something we categorize along with other undesirable and awful things in the corner of our minds. On one side you have victory, pleasure, love, and belonging, on the other you have defeat, pain, hate, and isolation. But suffering is also one of our biggest teachers and all of us are going to be getting to know it in one form or another for the rest of our lives. Suffering is going to be sticking around either way.

And sometimes the sweat and blood and tears can be the haze that comes before your greatest triumph. Sometimes the gut punch that lands you in ER at age 16 from a drug overdose can be the experience you look back on 20 years later and she was necessary for the mission you eventually had to help others through their own struggles.

All life suffers in the literal sense. Organisms feel cold and hungry, animals being hunted feel fear. Humans have consciousness of death and fear the unknown. The Syrian Christian hermit Saint Simeon Stylites Simon the Elder lived on a one-square-meter platform atop a meter pillar for 37 years because monastic life was too extravagant for him in his quest for higher meaning. Food was brought up to him by a ladder. In the pain of suffering some individuals can find a cleansing fire.

They can use suffering to burn through the layers of illusion inside themselves and enter the present moment in all its imperfection and pain. Instead of suffering increasing the desire to no longer exist, spirituality and inner experience can be strengthened and suffering can bring us to a stronger determination and drive to be present and exist.

And why not take advantage of your suffering, and see it as the place where growth and change can happen? When we experience suffering — or even choose it as some monks and others have — we begin to deeply appreciate the immense hardship that many people around us are experiencing. We empathize more and we want to help, even if it is just to be there for them.

Having compassion and empathy for others also involves starting by having compassion and empathy for ourselves. Before we can truly find love and intimacy with others we must find it within ourselves, and before we can hope for compassion and reciprocity to flow toward us we must become the engine of it ourselves. Suffering and trials of life may increase the lines on our faces, but it can also strengthen the kindness inside of us.

It can forge an unbreakable authenticity and desire to give back that nothing can break. Regardless of your faith or level of optimism, there are tragedies, setbacks, and challenges that happen in life that can stun even the strongest of us. Some experiences can haunt you for the rest of your life, from being a refugee in war to watching a loved one die. There can be times when accepting that life sucks right now can actually lead you to stop chasing fairytales and codependent relationships and reclaim your personal power.

Brian Nixon is a writer, artist, musician, educator, and family man. Brian is a director of education and publishing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. HIs writing interests cover three broad areas in philosophy known as the transcendentals: truth, beauty, and goodness. Check him out at: wikipedia. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

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