Pain is not Weakness

I saw someone with a t-shirt that said, “Pain is just weakness leaving the body”. Being a long-time sayer of dumb things I can say that is just dumb. I understand the sentiment, but I think it is misplaced.

First, pain is not weakness. Pain is a way we know something is happening to us. Maybe good, maybe bad, but pain is a change in our physical or mental being telling us something we need to know.

Second, pain is a chance to be mindful. Pain is an opportunity to stop and think about what we are doing in that moment that is causing the pain, and hopefully learn from it.

I don’t want to get all “unicorns and rainbows” here, but maybe pain is only good. It hurts, its frustrating, even infuriating, but its purpose is to help us. To make us stop, think about what we are doing, and maybe be better versions of ourselves. Sort of like eating Brussel sprouts.

Maybe the shirt should be “Pain is my friend”. Or maybe just buddy. Not sure I want to be too close with pain.