Respecting Suffering – Theirs as Well as Yours – and Deliberately Cultivating the Inner Strengths That Relieve It

So many of us are quick to dismiss our own pain—or the pain of others. We might tell ourselves to “move on” or wonder why someone else is still upset.

But the truth is, suffering deserves respect. When we minimize pain, it often makes it worse—and avoidant patterns can keep us stuck.

That’s why it’s important to face what hurts with compassion and strength – so we can release what no longer serves, and receive the inner resources that help us heal. These include resilience, self-compassion, and the courage to stay present with what’s difficult—without falling into shame, judgment, or superiority.

You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up at https://rickhanson.com/wednesday-meditations-with-dr-rick-hanson/. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it at: https://rickhanson.com/talk-meditation-respecting-and-relieving-suffering/

And if you'd like to check out any of my online programs at https://rickhanson.com/online-courses/, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.