Out of our suffering we emerge by Bryant McGill

Bryant McGill is a best-selling author, speaker and activist in the fields of self-development, personal freedom and human rights. His prolific writings and small aphorisms have been published in hundreds of books and quoted in thousands of works by other authors, educators and social leaders. Receive Bryant's free daily inspiration, "Simple Reminders" and personal success tips at: www.bryantmcgill.com

The truth is that life can be very difficult at times. There can be a lot of pressure to keep it all together, to be smart and beautiful, to be so good and perfect. But sometimes we don't have it together at all. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we don't feel good or look our best. Sometimes things are not good at all and we feel miserable, lonely or depressed. If you have lost your way and feel down, that feeling belongs to you. If you feel miserable — it's yours, and no one should take it away from you. Maybe things really aren't very good at all right now. Maybe you have good reasons to be depressed, and the last thing you need is someone telling you to be happy.

But one thing you do need, is at least the respect from others to let you sit with your valid feelings. You don't always need a cheerleader, but just someone to be a friend and acknowledge where you really are, and how you really feel. Real problems can't be fixed with a motivational poster, a cute quote or a pat on the back. While you are in your pain, it does not matter how intrinsically special you are, or how beautiful life is, or how precious each moment is — if you don't accept and respect your suffering, it isn't going anywhere. Submit to your pain; don't suppress your pain. If you can sit with your pain, listen to your pain and respect your pain — in time you will move through your pain.

"The best way to get rid of the pain is to feel the pain. And when you feel the pain and go beyond it, you'll see there's a very intense love that is wanting to awaken itself."

Pain is like a healing emotional fever. Allow your pain to cleanse you and burn away what needs to die. A new and better you will grow from the ashes. The most important parts of your life will be marked by pain. Some of the most amazing people in the world were not perfect; they were scarred by suffering, hardships, losses and imperfections. But, when they recovered, they were stronger, wiser, and more loving and compassionate. Your life is going to get better in the proper time, and you will be stronger and more at peace than ever before. Out of our suffering we emerge. Our struggles are really our only hope. Stay strong.