Pain and suffering are part of life, but they disappear… sounds like a paradox, right? It’s a game-changing idea that reframes our struggles not as punishments, but as the very fuel for our personal evolution. Once you truly get this, it changes how you approach every single challenge. Let’s break down why this works.
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Meaning
The core message here is that resistance to pain is what causes suffering. The pain itself is just data; the suffering is our emotional reaction to it. Acceptance is the key that unlocks the door.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times, both in my own life and with clients. We get hit with something difficult—a failed project, a heartbreak, a financial setback—and our first instinct is to fight it. To ask, “Why me?” We tense up. We resist. And that resistance, that mental and emotional wrestling match, is the suffering. It’s exhausting. But when you finally stop fighting and just accept, “Okay, this is my reality right now,” something incredible happens. The struggle vanishes. The pain might still be there, but it’s no longer amplified by your internal battle. It becomes manageable. It becomes information. It becomes, as Coelho says, a necessary step. You start to look for the lesson, for the pivot, for the growth. That shift from resistance to acceptance is everything. It’s the difference between being stuck and moving forward.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Category | Life (320) |
| Topics | acceptance (73), growth (413), pain (20) |
| Literary Style | philosophical (434) |
| Emotion / Mood | calm (491), resilient (9) |
| Overall Quote Score | 82 (297) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is correctly attributed to Paulo Coelho from his 2003 novel, Eleven Minutes. It’s a Brazilian novel that became a global phenomenon. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around misattributed to Buddhist texts or other self-help gurus, but the specific phrasing is pure Coelho from this book.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho (368) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Eleven Minutes (47) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Paulo Coelho(1947) is a world acclaimed novelist known for his writings which covers spirituality with underlying human emotion with a profound storytelling. His transformative pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired his breakthrough book, The Pilgrimage which is soon followed by The Alchemist< which went on to become the best seller. Through mystical narratives and introspective style, Paulo Coelho even today inspires millions of people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their life
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Pain and suffering are part of life, but they disappear once we accept them as necessary steps to growth |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2003 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-06-058928-8; Latest Edition: HarperCollins 2004; 288 pages. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 32, Approximate page from 2003 edition |