Meditations On Pain

A Stoic’s Guide to Application

“The mind adapts and converts obstacles to its own purposes. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

- Marcus Aurelius

1. Understand that there are two sorts of pain. There is the injurious sort and the discomforting sort. They bear similar signals but differ in their true nature. Injury harms us; it limits our flourishing and tests thy resolve. Thou mayest rehabilitate from injury with high spirit, yet in injury thou art not whole, no matter the quality of thy mind. Discomfort, however, is no true harm. It is but the illusion of injury, planted deep at the core by instinct, programmed for a world not thine own. And it is the opposite of injury, for without discomfort thou art shallow; then discomfort yields contentment and pleasure, and all other higher things. If thou feel pain, ask thyself whether it be discomfort or injury, and recognize that the former is thine foe.
2. Knowing that a world without pain is hollow, and that thou canst rise only to the level of thine habits, resolve to practice. Do not hurry for distraction when pain looms in the soul. Recognize and accept it. Thou must also be sure to include in thine days a regular trial. Seek cold, lactate, or silence in the early morning; begin with an intent of controlled suffering. Readily shalt thou recognize that merely taking this test is an unyielding challenge that, with each new day, regains its difficulty. Meet it with courage.
3. Do not procrastinate thy trial, for in hesitation the weak will declares victory and setteth itself upon the spiritual throne. Instead, knowing that pain shall find thee all the same, rise to meet it swiftly and on thine own terms. A strong will is needed for the thorns ahead.
4. When a trial begins and pain arrives, measure thy reaction. Notice the panic, the lies of injury and harm. Understand that in the fray there is cacophony, but that if half the noise be real physical sensation, the other half is naught but thine own mind and frenetic thought.
5. Reflect that behind each and every feat of strength hath been both the roar of the body and the pleadings of the mind, and that greatness is defined by acceptance of the one and refusal of the other. Consider how few have endured the panic for long, and see thus that thy success would be uncommon. Resolve to suffer righteously in the pursuit of that uncommon place of mind.
6. Once the panic hath been subdued, empty thy mind and let it be filled by the pain. Feel pain truly — the whips against the skin, the thud of thy heart in thy chest, the shivers down thy spine. Know these sensations as if they were thine only friends, and let nothing distract thee from the content of their discourse. It is not enough to merely step over the edge — one must also merge with the sensation of falling.
7. Let thine outer expression match that inner state, whether present or aspirational, of virtue. From without as from within, be peace amongst the flames; a picture of focus and dedication to thy task.
8. Have faith that from this pain shall be born a pleasure sweeter than thou canst imagine, for thou hast acted as craftsman, carving the wood of sensation into a form realized only through skillful practice. Understand that this pleasure is not enemy to pain, but rather its partner and lover, and that the deeper thy engagement with the one, the steadier shall be the passive presence of the other. If in thy choices thou seek a dance with pleasure, pain shall soon take thy hand and hold it the longer. And the opposite is true as well. Choose as thou will, but knowing that this as the oldest and most basic truth of thy consciousness.

Above is part two in the pain series that began with the post An Ode To Pain. Because the idea of building a healthy relationship with pain is often associated with stoicism , and since the meme of the stoic warrior is gaining popularity as of late, I thought it would be fun to write in the style of an old english translation of an ancient stoic. This is my first time trying this technique, so please forgive the inaccuracies. More to come on this series soon, but drop me a comment if there’s anything specific on this topic you’d like me to explore. And as always, subscribe, share or like if you enjoyed reading :).