Then, we feel miserable, or angry, we try to understand the situation, or we want to fight back immediately.

Whatever we do, we get busy with the pain. As if the pain is the matter.

The task of pain is to drag us out of our comfort zone. It makes us aware of the unpleasant moment. By doing so, we have a chance to deal with what real matters: The injury, the criticism, or the mistake we did.

Next time you get hurt, you could pay attention to how you try to avoid the pain: How you stop breathing, how you contract certain parts of your body (maybe neck, shoulders, chest…). Then you could try to open your body to this pain: To breathe through it, to let it happen. As if it was not your enemy, but some intense, useful energy.

As soon as you stop fighting with the pain, but welcome it in your body, your mind will be free to focus on the real issue that hurt you. And you’ll be able to create a change that will avoid future hurt.