The Therapeutic Poet in conversation with Susan McGrath on Skilful Suffering

None of us want to feel pain, and yet it is a core part of the human experience. We can distract ourselves in many ways to try and avoid it, but in this podcast with therapist Susan McGrath we explore the possibility of staying with the pain. Susan describes suffering as a two part process: the original cause of pain and then the resistance to the pain, which can show up as the ‘Why me?’ and ‘I don’t deserve this’ thoughts. 

Within this podcast Susan offers two practical short exercises that can help you suffer more skilfully. She also explains how this may open up the opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth. 

Susan has written a book on Skilful Suffering which will be out in 2022. 

The first was a surrender practice in which one welcomes all of the feelings and experiences that one is going through. The second was a Tonglen practice. Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice. On the inhale, you take in the pain and suffering of yourself and others and on the exhale you give space, compassion and healing to yourself and others. As Susan mentioned, please be mindful of when you take on these practices. 

I also mentioned Eckhart Tolle and you can read more about his perspective in his book ‘Stillness speaks.’

For more information about Susan,  please visit her website www.susanmcgraththerapy.com

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