why invite stress in?
Stop studying strife
And learn to live “the unexamined life”..

Anthony Storr believes it is our discontent and unhappiness that inspire us to develop and use our imaginations (Solitude). I would say that we are not just compelled to use our imaginations when we are unhappy, but we have the opportunity to employ hope and commit to change. The discomforts and distresses of life, pain and breakdown, often mean we give greater commitment to healing.

While away, I was discussing with my friend and colleague Imogen Ragone www.imogenragone.net/blog why we had trained in our particular approaches. Imogen trained as an Alexander Technique Teacher and I trained as a Gestalt Psychotherapist.

We were aware that we trained in our approaches because we had both received something life changing from the approach for ourselves. Both of us feel a great passion for our studies and our work. Imogen had severe neck pain, which was helped greatly by Alexander Technique and similarly Gestalt Therapy helped me with some difficult emotional issues. We realized that very often the students or clients who really commit to and engage in working with us are also often those who are in a great deal of pain or distress.

When our life is tolerable or our pain is tolerable, we can get by, live with it and maybe even perpetuate the situation. Sometimes it is only when things become intolerable, when we ‘can’t take any more’ when ‘enough it enough’ that we are willing to take a leap of faith, make radical changes, to let go of what we cling to.
I used to rock climb. When the holds were small and precarious I would keep moving quickly on upwards, ever in search of a better hold, however if I came to a slightly more comfortable ledge, it was difficult to move off this semi-comfortable place and take the risk of continuing on up the rockface.
Maybe it is easier to commit to heal, to change, to move when our position is precarious, more so than when it is tolerable? Maybe the pain and suffering we feel brings us to a point of courage? Just like Fiyero, the character in Wicked, comes to realise.