The simplest reaction to pain is to reject it. Another approach may be to complain about oneself, others, or the situation.

But these reactions only try to avoid seeing what is already there.

Taking a look at one’s suffering is a starting point to realize that the monster we expect to see and the monster that seems to engulf us may not be the monster we expected.

Becoming acquainted with that monster may then allow us to look behind the curtain and see some of its reasons for being there, some of the reasons for it to be so scary, but also quite a few elements that, once exposed, can be addressed.

There is no reason to seek out suffering. But once it is there, it can become a source of growth.