(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)
Pain is a sensation. Suffering is an emotional reaction to pain.
Of course you want to lessen or eliminate the pain sensation. Maybe you can’t stop it immediately, the condition is what it is. The pain is physical.
The suffering is a story. Stories of suffering can take many forms – annoyance, anger, victim-hood, self-judgement, blame, or some other fill-in-the-blank emotion. Fortunately, stories can be changed quickly and easily with today’s inner-work tools.
Coaching Point: How do you think the pain would be without the story and its suffering?
Copyright 2018 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.