Patients who are suffering may find inspiration in an idea shared by Martin Luther King. The civil rights icon suffered much pain and loss, including arrests and jail time, the bombing of his house, and death threats.
Much of King’s suffering could have been avoided had he chosen less-risky paths. Unlike King, patients don’t choose to get the illness causing them to suffer. Yet, King’s message may speak to patients because of what they have in common: the suffering is unmerited.
King’s message [excerpted from Suffering and Faith; 1960] on the value of unmerited suffering:
As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways that I could respond to my situation: either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force.
Problems arise if patients blame themselves, even if only subconsciously. Why might some patients erroneously believe their suffering is the result of something they did, said, thought or felt? Because our brains are wired to find cause-and-effect connections. If they can pinpoint something they did wrong, the suffering makes sense, and maybe they can fix the wrong and prevent further suffering.
If you are suffering due to illness, see that pain as evidence of the human condition: life is unfair. Keep King’s words in mind. Transform the associated anxiety, anger, sadness or other unpleasnt emotion by choosing to “Use Negative Energy to Fuel Positive Action.” [Healing Hope; p. 67]
Illustration by Emma Mathes (Healing Hope; Curant House 2018)
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