PURPOSE IN THE PAIN

The Merriam-Websters dictionary defines pain as a localized or generalized unpleasant body sensation or complex sensations. It goes on to characterize pain as mental, emotional suffering or distress. Although pain is easily identified as trouble and an unwelcomed feeling we must evaluate if there is a positive purpose for it.

Doctors and other medical professionals are assigned to dissipate and alleviate pain. This is very pertinent to me because that has always been one of the staples I work toward in my care as a nurse. We look for resolution and relief from pain often not having an appropriate respect and conscious response to it. Allow us to discuss the positive purpose for pain and examine how it can be purposed to promote growth, healing, and change the trajectory of our lives.

Lets take a moment to discuss a physically positive purpose of pain. I recently heard a story of a man who was at the beach with his wife. As he waded in the ocean water his wife noted that he was in some sort of trouble. His eyes were signaling that he was in urgent need for help. His wife recalls that the scream that followed were terrifying and blood curling. She leaped to his rescue only to discover that his right arm was in the mouth of a shark. She grabbed on to his left arm and he began to fight his way away from the jaws of this massive creature with her support. The aftermath was visibly catastrophic. The blood loss was massive but he never loss consciousness. Transported to the hospital in critical care he underwent surgery to repair his dangling arm. The wife recalls the dialogue at the follow up appointment with the surgeon. "It is unbelievable how your husband survived this attack and his threshold for pain is enormous. I am so sorry that we were unable to save the 2 fingers on his hand that were tragically affected." To the surgeons amazement the couple smiled as the wife clutched the affected hand of her husband. The husband graciously looks at the doctor and says, " But it was the pain that made me fight. It made me reflect on my potential for loss and propel me to commit to winning. Upon my reflection, I recognized that if the pain had been slight discomfort I would have under reacted to the seriousness of the situation. My pains purpose was to save my life. My hand is a constant reminder that I have it in me and I'm worth it."

Life comes with many pains ranging from physical to emotional. Take a moment to look at those things in your life that have broken your heart, made you cry, or destroyed your faith in you. These pains are sometimes so life changing that it appears unbearable but I challenge you to redirect the screams of pain to be transitioned into your shouts of victory. It may sound like a cliché but these things do come to make you stronger. They come to assist you with walking in your value. Pain and discomfort can be the catalyst in you propelling yourself to greatness. You taking the chance to start that business that's lying dormant, registering for school, networking with people that can promote you, or gaining skills personally and professionally is you turning pain into purpose. We all have wounds (some visible and some camouflaged) and they do inevitably heal. I charge you to allow your wounds to be much like the husband we discussed and be a badge of courage, honor, and privilege. There is indeed purpose to your pain and the opportunity to exploit it belongs to you.

#ClearCache'