When was the last time you had a good cry? 

I'm not talking about the "watery eyes" at the end of a film or a moving image on social media. I'm talking about an actual cry. 

Shedding tears is an emotional response to a range of emotions, from utter grief and despair to pure happiness and joy. 

Studies show that women cry  3 to 5 times per month, while men cry 1 to 3 times monthly. This difference in the rate of crying is likely due to socialization and gender roles.

When former North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano gave his moving 1993 Espy speech after being awarded the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award, he recommended everyone do three things daily. First is to laugh. Second is to think; third is to have your emotions moved to tears. He went on to say, "If you think about it. If you laugh, think, and cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day."

According to a 2022 article by the Cleveland Clinic, crying engages our parasympathetic nervous system to relieve stress, strengthen our relationships, and relieve pain.   

At church a few weeks ago, our pastor commented in his homily that crying releases salt water. Salt water connects us to our Creator because all life springs from the oceans, which are comprised of salt water. 

Here are four benefits we receive when we cry:

1. It has a soothing effect - Crying releases endorphins, the body's "happy hormones," which calm our anxieties.

2. Helps us sleep - Crying helps us to relieve stress. In addition, the hormones released during crying periods calm our minds, allowing us restorative sleep.

3. Prevents infection - Our tears contain lysozyme, an enzyme with antimicrobial properties. Lysozyme prevents eye infections and neutralizes bacteria.

4. Restores emotional balance - Crying brings relief. It is a cathartic experience that restores emotional balance.  

Crying is a natural and healthy response that helps us align our emotions and reduce stress. It's a tool in the toolbox that helps us maintain our emotional well-being.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on crying. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I'd appreciate hearing from you.

When was the last time you were in pain?

I'm not talking about cutting yourself shaving, getting a sliver in your finger, or stubbing your toe on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I mean the deep, penetrating anguish of the ache in your soul, the distraught grief in your mind, or the burning, stinging, and throbbing torment after major surgery.

If we live long enough, we will eventually experience some form of pain. As author Haruki Murakami says, "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional."

Pain is a feeling we constantly seek to avoid because it causes stress in our lives. But what if we looked at pain from another direction? What if instead of averting pain, we embraced it and used it to make us stronger and more resilient?

While nobody likes to be in pain, according to an article in psychology-spot.com titled, 3 Benefits of Pain: The Hidden Power of Emotional and Physical Scars, pain can alert and protect us.

Here are three ways we can benefit from emotional or physical pain:

1. Strengthen Relationships That Are Valuable - Because pain often leaves us needy and vulnerable, it can help us develop relationships and let us know who we can count on in difficult times. It will also allow us to be more compassionate, empathetic, and kinder when others are in pain.

2. You Learn To Put Things In Perspective -  One of pain's "positive" gifts is that it clarifies what is important in our lives. Grief has a way of putting life into proper perspective. When things are going well, we tend to emphasize and worry about the small, insignificant "pains" in our lives. In difficult times, there is a focus on what is important.   

3. It Makes Us More Confident and Resilient - Pain can be an effective teacher, if understood and used correctly. As the pain increases and things get more complex, one of two things will happen: you will fold, or become more resilient. You can use pain to learn that you are much more powerful and durable than ever imagined. This resiliency will strengthen your mettle and allow you to keep progressing despite intolerable difficulty.     
 
By turning into the storm of distress instead of trying to outrun it, you run right through it, minimizing the amount of anguish, time, and frustration you experience from your pain. 

So the next time you face difficulty, don't try to run away from the discomfort. Use is to make you tougher and more determined.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on using pain to make you stronger. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I enjoy hearing from you.