Pain is Inevitable but Suffering is Optional
Understanding the difference between what happens and how we respond
September 18, 2020 |
1 min read |
Oren Knaan
"Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional."
Unpleasant things happen to me everyday.
When I notice that something unpleasant is occurring, I'm aware that I have a choice—whether to add suffering to it, or to simply recognize the unpleasantness.
The only thing that determines whether or not I'll suffer is what I choose to tell myself about the unpleasant event.
The Power of Interpretation
The event itself is neutral. It's our story about the event that creates suffering or peace.
When we change our story, we change our experience.
Remember: You can't always control what happens to you, but you can always control how you respond to what happens to you.