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Pain Avoidance




In 2016, according to the Center for Disease Control, healthcare professionals in the US wrote over 214 million prescriptions for opioid pain medication. That’s roughly two scripts for every three people in the country. In the same research, 11 million people were found to be abusing opioids. And it’s not just the hard-core pain meds that are abused. People seem to eat NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Advil and Aleve like they’re candy despite the havoc these drugs wreak on gut health, the GI tract, and other organs including kidneys and liver.

Treating pain has become a multibillion-dollar industry in the US alone. I understand that some individuals have severe chronic illness, cancer or debilitating injuries and pain management may be a necessity in those cases. But that being said, we have gone over the top in avoiding pain and it’s not just in medicine. The American way of life seems to be predicated on escaping discomfort of any kind.

We treat pain as an obstacle or wall that must be circumvented. But what if pain isn’t an obstacle at all? What if it’s actually a door? Pain opens up pathways and opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience without first walking through discomfort.

Everything good and cherished in my life is the result of some degree of discomfort or even suffering. I’m not saying that I’ve had a rough life (I haven’t) but I am saying that everything of value that I experience has manifested itself amidst pain or trials. If I would have avoided adversity and sought comfort, I would have missed everything that makes my life worth living.

I wonder what other blessings and even miracles I may have missed in life because they were shrouded behind a door of discomfort. Don’t be afraid to open that door from time to time. You may be pleasantly surprised to experience what’s behind it.

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