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FEBRUARY 29

SEPARATING PAIN FROM SUFFERING

SPIRITUAL BALANCE

“Man suffers most from the suffering he fears, but (which) never appears, therefore he suffers more than God meant him to suffer.”

Dutch proverb

My pain manifests itself in many forms—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Today I know the difference between pain and suffering. Chronic pain is part of my physical life, while emotional, mental, and spiritual pain can become suffering if I allow myself to dwell in them.

Emotional, mental, and spiritual pains are real, just as real as the chronic pain I feel in my body. I can take positive actions to lessen or rid myself of chronic physical pain, but if I wallow or dwell in my emotional, mental, and spiritual pain, then suffering is the result.

How to handle my suffering? The same way I handle my chronic physical pain: healthy habits and reaching out to others—including my higher power, my sponsor, my counselor, my fellowship. I alleviate my suffering with balance in my life; I don’t become too focused on myself. I keep a healthy balance between self and others, and my suffering diminishes.

For today, just today, I see my pain for what it is and I see my emotions for what they are. I strive to separate the two and to deal with each separately.