How you can look at pain in a new way

What if we looked at pain differently to take back our power?

Without going into details, I've been through some seriously painful life altering moments and stressful situations over the past 2 years. The body doesn't lie – you know you're experiencing high levels of stress when your resting heart rate is in the red while you're sleeping.

I recently had a friend ask how I was holding things together, I responded that it was my habits and reframing that was saving me.

Here's how you and I can look at pain in a new way:

P- PURPOSE 

 What if the challenge or crisis you're currently experiencing is a necessary part of the process. What if you must go through the storm to build the strength necessary for the next battle ahead or to appreciate the reward with deep reverence?

A- AWARENESS 

What if the pain you're experiencing is intended to create more awareness? Is your body telling you to slow down but you keep ignoring it? Is the challenge you're experiencing forcing you to stop and realize just how incredibly blessed you are in other areas of your life?

I remember telling a friend who was massively stressed out that he needed to take a break. He refused and increased his stress levels to a degree in which he spoke so fast that it was hard to follow his thought process or even hold a conversation because he was so scattered. Wouldn't you know, about two weeks after our conversation he had a very serious accident that left him immobile for several weeks.

I believe God, you may believe the universe, will force us to awareness if there's a lesson to learn.

Don't wait for a major incident. Instead ask, "What can I learn from what I'm going through?"

 I- INTENT

Part of experiencing pain affords us the opportunity to live with more intention. We approach each day with deliberate action that is aligned with our core values and long-term aim. Rather than being tossed around by the storm of pain and crisis, we can intentionally seek out how to live from a place of purpose and take control of our next few moves.

N- NEXT MOVES

Like anything in life, this too shall pass. Good times come to an end; hard times also pass. We can stay in our pain, or we can have the courage to chart out our next move and bright future. This can be difficult when you feel like you have your eye on your big goal and see hurdle after hurdle in the path.

Your job is to see each stumbling block as a foundational stone to build a firm foundation for a resilient spirit so that, through your pain, you can inspire others to see what's possible for their future as well.