073: Pain vs. Suffering
How are pain and suffering different?
![073: Pain vs. Suffering](/content/images/size/w1460/2021/05/PainSuff_TitleCard.jpg)
How is pain different than suffering?
I posed this question to a friend.
She sent back these two sketches.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2021/03/PainGRAPHICS.png)
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2021/03/SuffGRAPHICS_avoid-1.png)
She added :
PAIN:
If you are able to sit with your thoughts and feelings, intense discomfort will usually decrease (or get easier to tolerate). No emotion lasts forever."
SUFFERING:
In a vicious cycle of avoidance, the discomfort gets more intense over time."
Agree? Disagree?
Do you see a distinction?
Related :
097: Two Roads
A modern spin on the classic poem.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2021/10/ep97_titlecard.jpg)
037: Just Start
Begin before you feel 100% ready.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2020/09/ep37-titlecard.jpg)
064: Top Regrets
The top regrets of the dying.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2021/03/ep64-titlecard.jpg)
043: Caregivers
Breaking things is easy. Repairing is harder.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2020/10/ep43-titlecard.jpg)
096: Self-states
On inhabiting many roles and personas.
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2021/10/ep96_titlecard.jpg)
019: “Enlightened” Review
My thoughts on Enlightened (TV series).
![](https://www.thefirejar.com/content/images/2020/05/ep19-titlecard.jpg)