Pathways from Pain to Meaning: Short Thoughts on Pain in History and Personal Development

A sympathetic and enlightening exploration of physical, emotional and spiritual pain and what we can learn from it, written by experienced psychologist and author of Bridges Between Life and Death, Iris Paxino.

People today strive to live as pain-free a life as possible, treating both physical pain and emotional suffering with a range of medical and alternative therapies. But in our efforts to avoid pain, are we excluding an important part of our human experience?

In this sensitive and thoughtful book, psychologist Iris Paxino explores different kinds of pain and the ways in which each affects us: from the physical pain of illness and injury, through the emotional suffering caused by loss and deprivation, to the spiritual pain experienced in moments of doubt when we struggle with meaning in our lives. Paxino also discusses the history of pain, the impact of chronic pain and treatment methods including behavioral techniques and anthroposophic therapies.

While pain should always be treated, Paxino argues that when we learn to accept it as an inescapable part of being human we develop resilience and inner peace as well as compassion for others.

Iris Paxino was born in 1970 in Bucharest, Romania. She lectures regularly in the field of anthroposophic psychology and runs a biographical counselling practice in Stuttgart, Germany. She is the author of several books, including Bridges Between Life and Death. Cynthia Hindes is a retired priest of The Christian Community in the USA.