Valerie Althouse on reframing pain.

We always focus on the “why” of our pain.

But what if there is another question that we should be asking? In this episode of the Mercycast, I talk with Valerie Althouse, Director of Training for International Students Incorporated, about living with chronic pain. Valerie shares her personal experience of living with chronic pain and how she has learned to manage it. She emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and engaging in hobbies that bring joy and distraction. Valerie also discusses the internal work of accepting and reframing pain, shifting from asking 'why' to asking 'how' to live with it.

Highlights and takeaways from the conversation:

• Living with chronic pain can be challenging, but finding a supportive community and engaging in hobbies can help manage the pain.
• Shifting from asking 'why' to asking 'how' can help reframe pain and find purpose in living with it.
• Starting where you are, acknowledging the pain, and finding hope in the bigger picture of eternity can bring perspective and strength.
• Acceptance and finding joy in the midst of pain can lead to personal growth and the ability to share one's story with others.
• "Don't overthink it. Whatever makes you smile and laugh, or whatever quiets your mind."
• "How do I walk through this in a way that it's used for something that has a greater purpose than maybe I would have chosen for myself?"
• "It's okay to start with where you are, to say it's okay to stop, slow down, acknowledge what hurts, acknowledge its impact on you, and to grieve it too."

If you like this episode—and how could you not—you must follow Valerie. You can find her website here. You’ll be glad that you did.

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For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking.

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