Subguy, I've had this reply in mind for a week and just now getting to writing it out.
About the pain, pain always accompanies change and growth. It'a a part of the process. It came to me while doing yoga one day that when I do certain poses or new poses, I feel some pain and if I fight it by tightening up and holding my breath it increases. But if I recognize the pain, relax and remind myself to breathe, it eases and I can go a little further or hold the pose a bit longer.
I think that's helpful for the pain in our soul, too. Accept and allow, breath into it. It doesn't take it away but it allows us to work through it. To each day get a little further in our journey.
Me 57/H 58 M36 S 2.5yrs R 12/13
Let me give up the need to know why things happen as they do. I will never know and constant wondering is constant suffering. Caroline Myss