Pain is Fuel

Pain has had many faces in my life: mental, emotional, physical and relational. Each time it rears its head again to touch my life, I am surprised. I'm not sure why, but I seem to think my existence should be painted in primary colors and have a soundtrack in a major key.

I recently saw an anonymous quote somewhere on social media: "Pain is fuel." I got to thinking how true this is. Pain is there to let me know that something is out of whack. Like anger, it is a signpost that something needs attention. That being the case, pain can fuel action and I get to choose what the action will be. This is MY area of responsibility, something I can control. Pain can be the catalyst for transformation in my life.

So rather than staying down and whining when pain (mental, emotional, physical, relational...) makes yet another appearance in my life, I have a choice. First I acknowledge my initial response, usually fear, anger, depression and/or self pity. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP! Imagine simply ignoring the screaming terror of a child and telling her to go color. Ridiculous, right? We don't do that to ourselves either. We don't should on ourselves.

My next step is to grab a journal. I write out all my anger, fear, self pity, etc. I scribble, scratch, paint, crayon, tear magazine pages and glue them. You get the picture. This action is what some call "turning it over" and others call meditation or prayer. The piece itself is rarely pretty. Raw or real, perhaps. However, as I am unloading/debriefing, something nearly always occurs. I begin to see something hopeful, or positive or peaceful. I seem to find answers. Or the answers find me.

So, dear one, the next time you bump into one of those stinking, tear-inducing layers (and you will), consider trying my trick. Let me know how it works for you. You know I am rooting for you to find your answers.

Because I love you. Bunches.

(Materials used in above image:
gesso, acrylic paints, homemade alcohol spray ink, Golden gel medium, gel pens, Micron pens, Sharpie water-based paint pens.
Tools used to create above image:
credit card to spread gesso, punch to cut butterflies, one layer of a printed paper napkin.)