When pain is short-lived and passes quickly, we experience it but do not suffer. When pain is a constant presence, it causes suffering: injury, constantly aching back, recurring headaches, hurting knees.
It can also be experienced as the pain of failure, loss or separation.

Then pain deeply affects our lives in terms of well-being, from our ability to rest and relax, to our capacity to work, enjoy recreational activities, maintain and develop relationships, being able to concentrate. Culturally, pain is regarded as an enemy, and we generally try to avoid it: becoming busy with something else, reducing our breathing and contracting our muscles in an attempt not to feel the pain. We force our body into repetitive postures and attitudes. We act in order to direct our attention away from pain. Often, we are unaware of those patterns: they are so automatic and habitual, sometimes for many years, we do not know that there is the possibility of choosing to react differently.

We can approach pain as an experience that calls our attention to the fact our body requires a change or has a need!

Transforming Pain pdf
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