PAIN IS A BAROMETER FOR ACTION

Reflection # 5 of 260 Reflections from the book, Reflective Empowerment, that was judged by

Reader Views as the Walsh Seminars

Award for Best Personal Growth Book

of the Year, 2010.

Reflection 5. Pain is a barometer for action

The world is so constructed that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures you must also

endure its pains. You cannot have one without the other. To get to the mountain

top, you have to pass through the valley of despair, and you have to endure and

overcome the slope of the hill. To enjoy the beauty of the rose, you have to accept

the threat of the thorn. You achieve to the extent that you overcome the

negative. Achievers are willing to pay the price of achievement.

The battle of life requires continuous effort and sustained application: this

translates to sacrifice and pain. If there were nothing to struggle for, there would

be nothing to be achieved. If there were no difficulties or pain, there would be

no success or achievement. When you achieve anything you seldom really appreciate

it, if it comes easily. If the prize is worthwhile, most times you have to

sacrifice your time, relationships, energy and money. There are no gains without

pains.

There is another aspect of pain; it alerts you to the fact that something is

not quite right with the situation. This enables you to consider taking action to

correct the imbalance.