How do you feel when you think about emotional pain? What do you connect to it? Have you ever thought about it as a positive thing in your life? If your answer is no, I have to disagree with you. Feeling pain in your life has pretty much the same concept as experiencing failure.

We don’t like it, but it is necessary for a better life. The same impact has the pain. Not everyone sees it this way; it is a matter of perspective. I would like you to look at the pain as a value and a good lesson. You are going to experience it from time to time; it is a rule of life.

Take a look at these four reasons why pain can be your friend and more than that, a teacher:

1. It moves you forward

Pain can move you forward and make you take action. It pushes you when you are not happy with what you have or see or who you are. With pain, you will move forward faster. When you feel unhappy, what do you do? You are trying to figure out what will make you happy and get you out of the pain.

You are more likely to change and make progress. Do you know what is worse than pain? Feeling comfortable. If you feel that where you are right now, it’s “fine,” you have already started your dying process. Feeling unsatisfied and always wanting more is a great indicator that you wish your life to be different.

You know that out there is a better world and better opportunities. You know that you were born with a high potential, and you don’t want to waste it. Keep moving forward and your pain will disappear step by step.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

2. It makes you grow

Being in emotional pain is tough but without it, you wouldn’t appreciate the pleasure. It gives you the real life lessons, and it makes you grow. Dwelling on the past and asking yourself why this or that happened to you is pointless. I believe that every negative experience has its meaning in life.

Things don’t just happen. Everything is a lesson for you to learn and maybe realize certain things about yourself. I love this quote from Deepak Chopra; “Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the one you need in your life at this moment.” But what if you are in a bad relationship? How can this benefit you?

Maybe you are, or you were in a relationship which didn’t work. Maybe your business partner betrayed you. These are situations you have attracted into your life. It makes you grow and become the person you need to be.

3. It gives you experience

As I have mentioned above, the pain will become your best teacher. You and I know that the actual lesson of life comes from your downfalls. When you hit rock bottom, when you get the real smack on your face. It’s like passing an exam in a very unusual way.

Look at your life right now and see your past. Was there any painful experience? I bet it was and I bet you have learned from it. Whatever has happened to you was meant to happen. Have you ever heard about someone with a very rough past? And after all, they are the ones who are helping people, they create support funds, organizations for people in need.

Why do you think they went through hell? Because their purpose came from what they experienced. They know how it feels, they decide to support others and change their life. They do magnificent work because of their pain in the past, and they have outstanding results as well.

4. It motivates you

Pain is the best motivator. It challenges you to make changes and progress whether you like it or not. It motivates you to change yourself, your life, maybe your relationships. How would we know what is right for us without feeling pain? Pain is an indicator that something in your life is wrong, and change is necessary.

Feeling emotionally uncomfortable, motivates you and sometimes inspires you to do remarkable things. Some accomplishment or success in your life wouldn’t happen if you were not in enough pain to pursue it.

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison

No one likes to experience emotional pain, but you have to understand that it is a part of your journey. Make it your best friend and learn from it as much as possible. Take it as value for your personality and experience. Use it for your personal growth and self-development.

What have you learned from your pain? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!