Can Your Suffering Inspire Others?

The suffering of saints is the growing pains of the universe

For most of my life, I was angry. I felt like I’d been mistreated by people I trusted, denied opportunities I deserved, and subjected to an unfair amount of adversity in comparison to other, more fortunate people.

In some ways, I was right: I’ve experienced much injustice over the years.

However, the more I examined my life, the more I realized that much of my suffering had been self-inflicted. Furthermore, even in my moments of deepest despair, I realized that worse things were happening to better people all over the world.

I’m lucky. I achieved this clarity in my mid-twenties, instead of in my late eighties.

More importantly, though, I learned that I could transmute my pain and frustration into artistic expression through writing and music. This is the True Alchemy.

When I finally embraced my creativity and took the risk to start sharing the fruits of my labors, it became a better coping mechanism for my existential pain than cigarettes, weed, alcohol, and casual sex had ever been.

Since then, my story has touched hundreds of lives on dozens of platforms — all thanks to a few ounces of courage and the miracle of technology.

My journey has taught me that as humans, our purpose is simple: we are the universe learning how to love itself.

Suffering — and the creative alchemy that accompanies it — is part of that process, because by overcoming suffering, we set an example of strength, integrity, and love to inspire others.

Put simply: the suffering of saints is the growing pains of the universe. Their sacrifice changes the world.

Quote Of The Week

The Suffering And Service Of Seneca

One of the best examples of a person who served dutifully while enduring great suffering is Lucius Anneus Seneca, AKA Seneca The Younger.

Seneca is remembered as one of the “Big Three” of Roman Stoicism alongside Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus.

Seneca was a Roman statesman born with a chronic illness — possibly asthma — to a wealthy Roman family in 4 BC. Throughout his childhood, he was tutored in philosophy, arts, and law in preparation for a life of politics.

In his early twenties, he was struck with a severe illness — possibly tuberculosis compounded by his original infirmity. For the sake of his health, his father shipped him away from Rome to live with his aunt and uncle in Egypt for a long, difficult recovery.

Seneca’s unexpected illness delayed the start of his career by nearly a decade. Then, when he finally recovered and returned to Rome, his uncle died in a shipwreck along the way.

Eventually, in Rome, his luck turned around. Between 31 AD and 37 AD, he started his career and swiftly claimed a seat in the Roman Senate.

Unfortunately, the corrupt emperor Caligula didn’t appreciate Seneca’s rapid rise to fame, and he sentenced Seneca to commit suicide.

However, before Seneca could carry out his sentence, Caligula changed his mind, because Seneca was so severely ill that Caligula expected him to die naturally and painfully on his own.

In 41 AD, Claudius replaced Caligula as emperor, and then the new empress Messalina accused Seneca of adultery — likely falsely — and the Senate sentenced him to death — again.

Claudius reduced his sentence to exile and banished Seneca from Rome.

Shortly before Seneca’s exile began, his only son died.

Seneca then lived in exile for eight years on an island in the Mediterranean. During that time, he fostered a writing habit that would eventually produce the numerous essays, letters, and plays he is now known for.

Seneca’s exile concluded when Agrippina — Caligula’s sister — married her uncle Claudius, the sitting emperor. She needed someone to tutor her young son Nero, and she demanded that Seneca take the job.

Seneca upheld the role spectacularly for several years, instilling in Nero stoic values and a foundation in philosophy. He was paid handsomely for his services and became extremely rich, which inspired the hatred of many jealous rivals.

However, a few years after Nero took the throne, the child emperor started to reveal a selfish and ruthless temperament that led to great strife in Rome.

He had many of his family members, rivals, and advisors murdered, spent money recklessly, and frequently engaged in activities that — in the eyes of the public — brought shame upon the position of the emperor.

During this time, Seneca tried to retire twice, but Nero wouldn’t let him. Eventually, Seneca was implicated — again, likely falsely — in a plot to assassinate Nero.

Nero responded by sentencing Seneca to death for the third time — by method of suicide.

Seneca didn’t escape this time, but instead went to his death nobly.

First, he slit several veins in his wrists with the intention of bleeding himself to death. However, he was too old, sick, and weak to bleed out effectively.

Delirious and in pain, he then took poison, but his circulation was so poor that it didn't kill him.

Finally, he had a hot bath drawn to quicken his blood flow, where he was eventually smothered to death by Roman guards.

Seneca’s painful life gave him a unique perspective which he shared in his writing, and his death left behind an incredible story that has inspired philosophers, theologians, and practicing stoics for nearly 2,000 years.

His words have soothed countless anxious minds wrestling with the unpredictable twists of fate.

This is the paradoxical power of suffering — it is a whetstone for courage and love. Painful experiences provide us with something to sharpen our souls against.

Then, when those who admire us encounter troubles, trials, and conflicts in their lives, they can borrow a piece of our courage to help them win their battles.

Amor Fati.

Question Of The Week

Consider some of the hardships you’ve endured in your life. How have these painful experiences made you more useful to the people you love?

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