Your Pain Isn’t Unique
The pain you experience isn’t unique. Countless leaders in churches, nonprofit organizations, and businesses have suffered the same kinds of hurts and confusion.
~Leadership Pain, Samuel Chand
“The pain you experience isn’t unique.”
That sounds pretty cold and dismissive, doesn’t it? Well, in a way, yes. But when you understand what is being said here, it’s actually very encouraging.
The truth of the matter is that we all experience pain in our lives. We think our pain is unique and nobody can possibly understand. But that’s simply not true. We are not breaking new ground, and when we think we are all alone in our pain, we tend to isolate ourselves, which only magnifies that pain.
When we realize that there are others who have walked this path before, we can see that there is healing. We can see that there is hope.
I think that therapy is slowing getting destigmatized in today’s world, but we aren’t there yet. There is still some ways to go with some groups.
So, if you’re struggling with something today, let me encourage you: find somebody to work through it with — preferably a trained professional; at the very least, a trusted confidant that will listen first and keep things confidential. Know that your pain is not unique, and that’s okay. Because that means there are others who can help you through it. Don’t be afraid to ask.
