Follow me on instagram or book a free consultation call on my website!
https://www.instagram.com/theantioptimisttherapist/
https://theantioptimisttherapist.com/
Pain isn’t a detour—it’s part of the path.
In this episode, I talk about how pain is the price of admission to a meaningful life. From Rosa Parks’ quiet courage, to Solzhenitsyn’s resistance in a Soviet labor camp, to Ulysses S. Grant’s resilience through failure and loss, history is full of people who chose values over comfort.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy reminds us that the goal isn’t to erase pain—it’s to carry it toward what matters. You don’t have to wait until you’re healed, fearless, or “ready.” You just have to take one step toward the life you want, cracks and all.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Today’s theme: pain as the price of admission
02:20 – The myth of “being ready”
04:10 – Rosa Parks: choosing courage despite fear
06:20 – Solzhenitsyn: keeping his mind free in the Gulag
10:00 – Ulysses S. Grant: leading through failure and heartbreak
12:20 – Pain as proof you’re moving toward what matters
14:40 – Personal reflections on waiting vs. showing up
17:20 – Kintsugi: cracks as part of the beauty
19:00 – Reflection: what are you waiting to feel better for?
20:30 – Final thoughts: don’t wait for the fear to leave
22:00 – Closing
