Pain Can Be The Path To Pleasure

Last year I had been sailing along, ignoring my feelings and signs that my body had been giving me. I was so focussed on my work project that I had neglected almost everything and everyone else in my life.

I went on to experience an episode of acute angina (or a very sharp, stabbing pain radiating out from my heart - the symptoms of this episode were unmistakable). Then, in two very painful hours I ended my relationship with my girlfriend and watched my business venture collapse, along with my finances. My life as I knew it was swept from under me.

This led to a very dark and desolate place where only emptiness existed. I can honestly say that from this place I felt no emotion. After 3 days of meditating in this emptiness I came to many significant breakthroughs in my thinking. I was able to communicate to my family from a place of humility and understanding. I was also able to see how I had created everything that had brought me to that place. This realisation allowed me to take back my power and decide to focus on positive outcomes.

Through my time as a nurse I know that there are more people motivated by pain than by pleasure. If there is not enough pleasure in my life then it was because I hadn't experienced enough pain. Speak to an average 90 year old and they will explain what suffering really is. I had my health, I had freedom of choice and I had an opportunity to turn my life around.

Now, I feel empowered to not only make the positive changes in my own life but to inspire others to do the same. Having known the emptiness of disempowerment I now embrace the alternative and live life as a game.

It is my belief that if you do not have enough pleasure in your life then you have not had enough pain. By visualising how you see your life in 10 years time you may well be able to save yourself years of suffering. Alternatively, you may already be on the path to happiness - this can only be a good thing.