I find that the deeper I delve into the wellspring of empathy for others who have it worse than I do – the more I focus on awareness, compassion, and empathy for others who endure far worse pain and lifelong abuse and suffering in this very same moment – the more effortlessly my focus shifts away from my own transient physical state of discomfort. In some ways, ironically, this focus frees me. In this shared moment of pain and discomfort, I connect deeply to these billions of innocent, scared, abused, and hurting non-human animals, and I am instantly humbled. I see my pain for what it really is. For me, this realization is deeply healing and profoundly transformational.
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