Palpable things always score well when it comes to the “human comprehension” yard stick. Due to the esoteric aspects involved, the abstract themes are often not regarded worthy of a discussion. Yet, certainly- not being materialistic, not completely engaged in & not appreciating the worldly affair is distinct from revering and comprehending the invisible yet dominant aspects of our living. The subject might appeal only a meager audience. Where conveying is a challenge and definitions could be fluid, relative and judgmental- not themselves abiding by the word “definition”- the writer’s creation and the writer himself happens to be at the stake of varied judgments. Despite being a stakeholder, the writer is driven by the subject that is potent enough- definitely worthy of a small space may be!
Charlie Chaplin once said, “I love walking in the rain so that no one can identify me crying.” His father deserted him before his age could comprehend; his mother lost her income there after and later the very psychological calm pre-requisite for a meaning survival. His childhood was characterized with authoritarian boarding schools and continual quest for earning the supper. The environment around then painted a mural of “pain” for him; yet years later he epitomes smiles, laughter and lighter moments in the lives of millions across the world. That was his reaction to counter pain. It was some sort of an impeccable life story that was carved personifying a virtue contrary to what he personally went through!
Certainly it takes eligibility to talk of this towering persona and hence I opt to talk about “pain” and not Chaplin! Thought he should be quoted in here because this man looked pain in the eye and probably no-one knows better what it is!
“PAIN” could be an abbreviation of “Personalized Act of Inducing Notional discomfort”. We can term it “notional” since most of the elements involved are created in the psychological panorama; all in the mind though not always unreal. Here we specifically address the mental pain- one more abstruse than the physical one. The complex human mind is compatible with and habitual to nurturing expectation and association. Anticipated or unanticipated bereavement is something beyond easy human acceptance. The incredible virtue of the human behavior is- despite knowing that the varied entities around including himself have an ephemeral nature, he (the human) lives as if the current variants were eternal.
Pain might have erudite interpretations and ways to explore in the scholarly works. Yet the lay interpretation might be sufficient if we look at it as an effect of two major causes- bereavement and expectation. Bereavement in terms of abrupt ebb of long cherished inter-human associations- accidental else intentional & continual and persistent surge of expectations inline with the personalized set-points carve the way for pain. Looked that way- human mind is a control system governed by the cumulative effect of the set-points, feedbacks, controlled and uncontrolled disturbances around- with “pain” being an undesired outcome.
No one regards pain with a positive connotation. Yet there is a fairer face to this black swan. Imagine a survival without pain. Had pain not made its presence amply evident, not having pain would not be evident either! Thus is the “pain” which signifies its contrary state of mind. Life follows the growth- growth in terms of physical, psychological and materialistic. Pain too endorses growth. Pain with its presence canalizes the mind to think, makes the mind acknowledge a situation out of the comfort zone. Out of this zone, the reaction and the overall perspective undergo a restructuring. Periodic re-evaluation or introspection is imperative for the mental growth which is undoubtedly nurtured by the presence of pain. Revisiting the perception and perspective is the essence of a human survival; had they been pre-defined and stagnant, life would have been a monotonous affair. Pain facilitates an environment, conducive for broadening this landscape.
Thus going beyond the typical thought matrix that categorizes a state of mind as positive or negative, it is important to gauge what that shade of human mind truly governs and where it offers a vista for growth oriented opportunities in disguise!
