“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

Simplified Meaning:

Pain is a part of life that everyone goes through at some point. For example, if you stub your toe or lose a loved one, you will naturally feel pain. This kind of pain is something you can't really avoid. However, suffering is about how you respond to that pain. Imagine you stub your toe, it hurts for a moment, and then you move on with your day—this is not suffering. But if you keep thinking about the pain, feeling sorry for yourself, and letting it ruin your mood, that's when it becomes suffering. An example from history is when people face difficult times, like during war. Everyone in such a situation experiences pain, but some people manage to stay positive and keep helping others. They feel the pain but choose not to drown in it. To apply this idea in your life, try to accept that pain will happen, but you don't have to let it control your emotions or actions. If you can change your mindset and focus on moving forward, you can reduce the suffering you feel.