What Can We Do When a Loved One is Suffering?

What can we do when a loved one is suffering? This question has come up a lot so I wanted to share some thoughts in case it may be helpful to you or a loved one. First, I acknowledge how challenging it is to witness any kind of suffering, whether it is physical, emotional or existential pain. But let me throw in a specific curveball...What if they are suffering yet there is not much that you can do about it? This challenging scenario can arise for many reasons.


Sometimes, the solutions are not known or available. Sometimes, your ability to help is limited. Sometimes, the person cannot receive your help. One of the toughest aspects of unconditional love, is this ability to care about someone's well-being and happiness, yet also be able to bear witness to their pain. 

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