Who Else Is Feeling This In Their Body

our cultural resistance to any kind of “stripping away of the self” leaves us unprepared for the suffering and trauma that life inevitably deals out to all of us. Even

must suffer physical pain to build stronger bone and muscle, one must suffer emotional pain to develop greater emotional resilience, a stronger sense of self, increased compassion, and a generally happier life.

On one level, there is a psychological attachment to suffering, driven by the ego’s need to reinforce itself and the unconscious tendency to cling to narratives that shape our sense of identity. On another level, there is a physiological dimension. When we suffer, our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine.