Welcome to the happiness podcast. I'm Dr. Robert Puff. Pain, suffering. They can be quite

challenging at times, particularly when we wake up with that pain in the middle of the night.

Well, the other day I woke up and I read this most beautiful post that one of my yoga teachers

decided to share on Facebook. I didn't know this about her that she suffered with physical pain,

but I really think she gets at the heart of what this podcast is about,

finding happiness even in the midst of pain. So I'd like to next read what she

wrote and then talk about it and see the insights that she came to and that we

can use in our own lives.

The purpose and the pain.

It is 1.30 in the morning.

I've been laying here, well, really tossing and turning for almost three painful hours. My nauseating, dull aching back pain has flared up

and I'm having an extremely harsh conversation with it. My beautiful husband and bed full of puppies are all snoring away blissfully.

The weight of the blankets is aggravating beyond words.

I sit up and begin to plead with God.

Please God, take away my pain.

Just let me sleep a couple hours.

It's such a long day tomorrow.

God, I have felt this pain for years. Just make it go away. I know you can. Tears drain out

of my eyes and stain my cheeks. These words are not about my belief in God. More than that, these words are about a

belief in self and our power of pursuit past pain and into purpose. You see as I sat talking with my higher power, I realized the questions and demands

that ask came from a victim and a place of pity. I began to change my words, reconstructs, opposed questions.

God, could you please empower me to find purpose in this pain?

...