How to Avoid Suffering when Changing

“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional” is quite a common quote. We need pain to change (and some pleasure to leverage the change). We can still avoid suffering.

Suffering is very much a psychological effect. What makes the difference between pain (external) and suffering (internal) is that we can either react or respond; we can choose not to suffer even in the face of pain. And we have always the choice: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” says Viktor Frankl (ref our post ‘How We Always Have a Choice, Even in the Worst Situation‘).

Change will come with pain. It should not come with suffering or bitterness. You can choose not to let it happen. Choose.