Daily Emotional Q&A

Throughout life, everyone encounters varying degrees of pain and challenges. These experiences, like the chill of winter, can pierce the bones but also usher in the vitality of spring.

1. Pain as a catalyst for growth

From a psychological perspective, pain is not only an inevitable emotional experience in life but also an essential catalyst for individual growth. Freud's psychoanalytic theory profoundly reveals the crucial role of pain in psychological development. He believed that psychological growth is a process of constantly confronting and overcoming inner conflicts, and pain is an essential "challenger" in this process. It forces individuals to confront negative emotions such as fear, loss, and anger. Through counseling and self-reflection, they gradually come to understand and accept these emotions, thereby deepening their self-awareness and strengthening their psychological resilience.

Rogers' humanistic psychology further emphasizes the value of pain in promoting individual self-realization. He proposed that everyone has an instinctive drive to pursue self-improvement and realize their potential. Painful experiences, while uncomfortable, can inspire individuals to reassess their self-worth and reflect deeply on life. Through experiencing pain, people often gain a clearer understanding of their values and life goals, and through repeated attempts and failures, they gradually find a path that truly suits them. Therefore, while pain can be bitter, it is also a necessary path to discovering one's true inner self and achieving a higher level of life.

2. Wisdom and Awakening in Suffering

Throughout the history of philosophy, many great thinkers have viewed pain as an integral part of life and drawn profound wisdom from it.

Nietzsche, the great German philosopher, proposed the concept of the "superman" in his writings, viewing suffering as the necessary path to a higher spiritual realm. Nietzsche believed that only those who could endure and overcome extreme pain could transcend the limitations of ordinary people and achieve self-transcendence and spiritual freedom. For Nietzsche, suffering was not simply a burden of life, but a crucible that tempered the will and unleashed potential. Through the tempering of pain, an individual's spiritual strength was sublimated, their creativity was unleashed, and they achieved extraordinary things.

Unlike Nietzsche's active resistance, Zhuangzi's Taoist philosophy advocates a more detached and natural attitude. Zhuangzi believed that both pain and happiness are manifestations of the natural way, and one should not be overly attached to one or the other. In the face of pain, Zhuangzi advocated maintaining inner peace and detachment. Through the wisdom of "equality of all things," he recognized the equality of all things and thus transcended the constraints of pain. In Zhuangzi's philosophical system, pain is viewed as a natural state, and individuals should cultivate inner harmony with nature and achieve spiritual freedom and tranquility through inner cultivation.

Buddhism, on the other hand, views suffering as an essential part of life, proposing the Four Noble Truths of "suffering, origin, cessation, and path" as the foundation of spiritual practice. According to Buddhism, suffering is an inevitable experience in life, but it is also a powerful driving force for awakening and the pursuit of truth. Through practice, individuals can recognize the root causes of suffering—defilements such as greed, anger, and ignorance—and, by eliminating these afflictions, achieve nirvana, a state of complete liberation from suffering. In this process, suffering is not only a test but also an opportunity for growth, prompting individuals to constantly reflect and correct their behavior, ultimately achieving spiritual awakening and sublimation.

3. The Beauty of Pain and the Song of Rebirth

Du Fu's "Spring Thoughts," with its poignant brushstrokes, closely connects personal suffering with the suffering of the nation. The poem, "The country is broken, but the mountains and rivers remain; in spring, the city is covered with thick weeds," depicts the bleak post-war scene. Yet, the poet does not wallow in despair. Instead, through his words, he conveys hope for the future and a yearning for rebirth. This search for hope amidst suffering is precisely the beauty of suffering revealed in literature.

In modern literature, Camus's The Outsider explores the relationship between suffering and rebirth from a unique perspective. The protagonist, Mersu, displays a calm and defiant attitude in the face of an absurd world and the threat of death. His experience reveals the courage of humankind to seek meaning and self-worth in the face of extreme suffering, and also reveals the power of rebirth hidden within suffering.

Similarly, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is a masterpiece that profoundly embodies the theme of "beneath pain lies rebirth." Young Harry, grieving the loss of his parents, faces numerous trials from bullying and dark forces, yet never gives up, ultimately becoming a hero who saves the world. Harry's story teaches us that while pain can be cruel, it can also be a catalyst for growth and a necessary path to rebirth.

4. Growth and Transformation in Pain

In real life, countless ordinary people, through their own difficult experiences, vividly illustrate the profound life philosophy of "behind pain lies rebirth." These stories are not merely about the ups and downs of individual fates, but also a heartfelt ode to the brilliance of human nature and the resilience of life. They reveal from a unique perspective the indomitable spirit that people demonstrate in the face of adversity.

When we delve deeper into those who have struggled through pain and ultimately achieved growth and transformation, we discover that they all display a reverence for life and an unyielding spirit. They may have suffered from serious illness and endured immense pain, but it was this very pain that fueled their deep optimism and resilience. Rather than being crushed by illness, they embraced life with a positive attitude, persevering through hard work and ultimately overcoming their illnesses and achieving a rebirth of life.

Similarly, those who have faced significant setbacks in their careers, families, and other areas have also demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. They quickly adjusted their mindsets in the face of adversity, not dwelling on past failures and pain. Instead, they bravely faced reality and embraced a new life with a fresh attitude. Their stories are inspiring and reveal the most resilient and brilliant side of human nature.

For these individuals, suffering is more than just a trial in life; it's a rare opportunity for growth. In the face of adversity, they've learned resilience and optimism, learned to find hope amid despair, and learned to maintain inner peace and resolve amidst adversity. These experiences have led them to re-evaluate their lives, reflecting on their meaning and value. This has led them to cherish every moment and pursue their dreams and goals with even greater enthusiasm.

In the stories of these ordinary people, we see the unyielding spirit and resilience of life, and the brilliance and warmth of human nature. Their experiences tell us that no matter how great the difficulties and setbacks, as long as we maintain our love and reverence for life, and maintain inner peace and determination, we will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve rebirth and transformation in life.

Pain, an integral part of life, though daunting, is also a powerful force driving individual growth, awakening, and transformation. We need not escape or deny pain, but bravely embrace it, drawing strength and wisdom from it. Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, only after enduring the baptism of fire can it be reborn and soar high. May we all find our own path to light amidst the trials of pain, embracing each rebirth and transformation in life.