On my blog last month, I discussed a better way to practice gratitude— not needing to focus on others who have less in order to feel grateful.
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Today I'm sharing the inverse of this practice—When we minimize our pain or trauma because "someone has it worse."
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I talked with someone who told me about their childhood pain, going to a Catholic school with nuns who abused them, making them feel dumb, and humiliating them in front of the class.
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There was a lot of suffering, yet they deflected their pain under the guise that others had it worse.
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They felt like they weren't allowed to be effected as if there's some grand ledger of trauma, and a judge deeming those worthy of feeling their pain, and who should suck it up because "it could be worse."
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There's something similar happening during the pandemic. People who have a stable job and good health are ashamed that they feel sad or discontent. They push down their hurt, saying, "I'm healthy and employed so I shouldn't complain or I should be happy."
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​We shouldn't be anything other than what we are. ​

Our practice is about welcoming and accepting all emotions, without judgment and with compassion.
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Don't minimize or compare your pain because only you know what it's like to carry it. Instead, Own it. Call out to the sky and proclaim, This is mine!
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You have full permission.
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If we don't embrace our suffering, we'll continue carrying the weight, and in the long run, end up worse off than those we're comparing to.
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​Feel to Heal is a meditation to support you in your healing and growth.
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This recording is from an Insight Timer live: Listen here.