Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
- Hila Naftali
- Dec 25, 2025
- 2 min read
When Buddha said these wise words, he described in one sentence, all the reasons why humanity suffers so much. The suffering does not come from pain; it comes from the resistance we have when we experience pain. In all my years of existence as a child, an adult, a woman, a psychologist, a yoga teacher, a poet or whichever label I wear on a certain day, my constant follower is pain. Pain is always there, but unlike most, all my “labels” have taught me to deal with pain and help my clients to do the same.
No one will ever be free from pain unless we learn to accept pain as our teacher, learn from it by moving through it. Moving through pain makes the body, the mind, and the psyche, stronger and courageous. Running from pain is the worst thing you can do in life, because everything becomes a trigger and you will blame your surroundings for your suffering.
That’s the reason why in my experience everyone should have therapy at some point, to learn how to stop running from pain, how to stay with pain and how to allow pain to teach you.
In the end all of us are on this earth to learn and grow, no matter what else we believe in.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that you are busy, have money, have a family or you meditate. Running from pain has many faces;.
It can be through substances like; alcohol, drugs, medication and food.
It can also be through endless work, constantly being occupied by "others" and an endless need to follow some guru.
It is up to you to make sure you are not running away.
I highly recommend seeking help and I am here for any support you need, via Zoom Sessions or in my private practice in Tel Aviv. Feel free to contact me for guidance. Don’t stay alone with your pain. Being Human means being vulnerable, wether we are willing
to admit it to ourselves or not.
Happy New Year and may this year be the year you stop running.
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