Brolin played George Bush in the movie "W". To me, for more reasons than one, this picture represents pain and suffering.

Have you ever been in such physical pain that you were suffering?  Perhaps you still are.  The same goes with your emotional pain as well.  

Wanna know what the difference between pain and suffering is?  It’s just as simple as a shift in perception.  Allow me to explain.

A patient of mine came in to see me 2 hours after she was involved in a car accident whereby she was rear ended by another car.  She was clearly in pain and suffering because of it.  She was extremely anxious about it.  Her pain was so intense that she felt that something was wrong with her.  She had a bottle of pills in her hand that she just got and she wanted my opinion on taking the anti-inflammatories her doctor gave her previously.  She wanted my opinion.

I explained to her that her body was simply responding to a stressor.  There was an alarm (shock of the accident causing the tissues in the neck to be stretched), then as a result, there was an adaptation whereby the injured tissues start to pool blood to the area so that healing factors can start to work their magic.  As a result, there is swelling, heat, and because nerves are involved, there is pain.

So then where does the suffering come in?  The answer lies in your perception.  

Pain is a part of life.  Throughout your life, you and I have, and will in the future, experience both pleasure and pain.  Suffering doesn’t come from the pain.  It comes with the EXPECTATION that you are only to be having pleasure, and no pain.

Think about that.  I mean REALLY think about it.  

When I explained to her that she is responding in a normal and healthy way,and that her pain is absolutely normal given what she just went through… immediately I could feel her shift.  I asked her how she felt.  She said she felt much better.

Her suffering was upgraded to just plain and simple pain.  How Interesting. 

I adjusted her spine right after I adjusted her perception first.  That made her a heck of a lot easier to work with over the next few weeks, because instead of resisting to what what happening to her, she embraced it and appreciated it.  

You can do the same in your life too.  Release the expectation that you are supposed to be happy all the time.  Surrender to the fact that your parents, children, or significant other isn’t always going to be nice and supportive to them, and neither are you.  Get over it.

I’ve suffered enough to now be able to recognize the thinking and expectations that created my suffering.  I would like to share it with you.  Since I love “how-to” guides, here’s a “How-to suffer throughout your entire life” guide.  Keep it as your bible.  I guarantee that it will work (or your money back):

•   Refuse to look at the world from any other perspective other than your own. 
•   Guard your beliefs, rules and principles, expectations and your side of the story with your life, and make sure everyone else is aware of them. 
•  Constantly seek out the support of groups, friends, other family members, organizations, doctors, and counselors that keep you stuck in your perspective and NEVER challenge it. 
•  If someone disagrees or challenges your belief, hold onto your story even tighter, with more determination.  They must be wrong.
•  Refuse to elevate your consciousness to a higher level, especially to the view that looks at the world as one small part of a bigger picture. 
• Don’t even entertain the notion of surrendering to the moment and become grateful for what is.  God must have surely made a mistake.  Pray constantly that He may correct it.

Every time I feel like I am suffering, I realize I’ve been thinking along these terms.  As Eckhart Tolle describes, The “end of suffering” is only a thought away.  Even though we all die sooner or later anyway, it is our thoughts and beliefs that will determine the quality and length of our life.

To end your suffering, you gotta switch your level of thinking to a higher level.  By doing this, you’ll get over your pain quicker, too.  You’ll shift your perceptions and your suffering will follow.  The road to recovery and fulfillment is much shorter this way.  I guarantee it.

This cute little kid is getting one of his first lessons about suffering, as taught by his evil little brother charlie.  

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