Everyone knows how much I love Tony Robbins, and during one of his courses he shared a truth that has stuck with me ever since:
Everyone is going to experience pain.
No matter who you are — no matter how smart, successful, spiritual, wealthy, or accomplished — life will hand you disappointments. It will give you challenges you didn’t ask for, problems you never saw coming, and moments you simply aren’t ready for. There isn’t a single person on this planet who will avoid deep pain at some point in their life.
Pain is not optional. It’s part of the human experience.
But suffering? That is optional.
We can allow pain to define us, drain us, and dictate our future… or we can choose to turn that pain into fuel. We can grow because of it, rise through it, and become stronger and wiser than before.
It’s not about what happens — it’s about what you do with what happens.
This truth landed even deeper for me recently. In one of my morning meditations, when my mind was finally still, it resurfaced — almost like the universe tapping me on the shoulder, reminding me of what I already knew.
For the past two months, I’ve been dealing with intense physical pain — unexpected, unexplained, and completely consuming. It’s hormonal, but when it arrived it took over my world. I’ve been down every rabbit hole trying to self-diagnose and fix it. And if I’m honest… I’ve been suffering. Worrying. Catastrophising. Trying to control every outcome. Wanting a fast solution, an instant recovery.
But this week, after being reminded of the difference between pain and suffering, something shifted. I asked myself:
What meaning am I giving this?
Am I feeding fear? Or can I accept that this is temporary — that healing will come in its own time, and I am supported?
The moment I embraced acceptance, the weight eased. The pain softened. And I realised this discomfort showed up to get my attention — to push me to make lifestyle changes I’ve been avoiding.
Because sometimes pain arrives not to break us… but to build us.
Nisha x.