The Princess Bride, a modern fairy tale employing all of the standard elements like Royalty, clearly defined heroes and villains, stark contrasts between good and evil, hints of magic and happy endings, is one of my favorite flicks.
While there are so many parts of this movie that make one laugh, there are also just as many parts that offer insight.
In one poignant moment, just after Princess Buttercup is mocked by the “Dread Pirate Roberts” and before she rediscovers her long, lost Wesley, the Pirate King reminds her that “Life is pain.”
And he is right, at least partially.
Life is certainly filled with moments or seasons of pain.
No one likes to feel pain. In fact, we all would choose to flee pain over feeling pain any day of the week. This ‘flee pain over feel pain’ urge is the seed-bed in which many addictions grow!
Yes, there is something to be said for an honest experience of feeling your pain.
Feeling your pain may, in fact, be the key that unlocks the door which opens to a new you!
Conversely, fleeing your pain – or striving to fix it too quickly, may be the reason the door remains locked.
I recently discovered some valuable lessons through the experience of feeling, rather than fleeing, my pain.