I asked myself, what is all this pain supposed to teach me? 

Honestly, what is it supposed to do to me other than make me hard, angry, bitter, vengeful? When does pain make us a better person - can suffering make us better people? 

I know it's supposed to help us grow in empathy. But as much as I can be a cold bitch, I score pretty high on empathy. Painfully high. 

Well, then. Perhaps it makes us tougher. But I am strong. I know I am strong. I don't need to go through waves and cycles of pain in order to re-learn that I am strong. 

Maybe it teaches us nothing. Maybe it is a part of life, that's all. No big deal, just suck it up. 

Then how does one deal with pain? 

1. 'Why me'. It never ends. You compare yourself to others. Why do I have to do this when someone else doesn't. Why do I have to deal with this difficult client when he doesn't have to. Why do I have to deal with this difficult boss when others have good bosses. But while we envy someone for something, that person is envying us as well. The poor person envies the rich person's lifestyle. The rich person envies the poor person for having true friends, and not having to wonder if people like you just for your money. The social butterfly who fits in anywhere envies the independent person for being true to themselves and not following the crowd. 'Why me' never ends. It's a bad way to go. 

2. Eat, drink, sleep, cut, fuck the pain away. All temporary measures. Bad for the body, and things which are bad for the body also tend to be bad for for the mind and soul. Better off without them. 

3. Accept it. This requires some nuanced understanding. Accept the pain, sit with it, be kind to it. Don't push it away or try to bury it. It helps if you understand that suffering is inevitable in life, and this suffering will come and go just like the others. And ultimately they will not be the most important things in your life. 

Grit your teeth and ride it. Come out on the other side.