Pain PART 3
An important and relatively obvious point about pain is that the “condition” of the brain will greatly affect how and to what degree pain is perceived. Some things about brain health are hard to control (genetics, aging, traumatic injuries, etc), while others can be modified (nutrition, inflammation, sleep, circulation) by diet, exercise and lifestyle.
One issue that is critical and seems less intuitive, is how we clear “debris” from our brains. This pathway to a healthy brain occurs by sleeping, as well as by how we sleep. Specifically, it has been found that 8 hours of sleep (or at least eyes-closed resting) is hugely helpful, but also sleeping on one’s side is better than sleeping on the stomach or the back. This is because the “sewer system” of the brain (called the glymphatic system) is most active in our sleep and most efficient when we are on our side.
A second pathway for keeping our brain (and bodies) healthy, is exercise. Our bodies were “built” for physical work and most of us probably “work” our bodies at only a fraction of their capacity for physical work during an average day. Zone 2 Cardio is a fancy name for exercising at 60-70% of “flat out” capacity. This is a level where casual conversation should not sound breathless but be “hard enough” to prevent us from casually singing and should be sustainable for longer periods of time. Since age, weight and general physical “shape” all play a key role in determining what that kind of exercise should look like, I recommend consulting your primary care physician and reading a good article by the Mayo Clinic you can find here: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/nutrition-fitness/zone-2-cardio-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-trending-online/
Avoidance of chronic stress (not always an easy task!) is another way to ease the brain and help corral pain. This could include meditation, working with professionals to help with emotional and psychiatric issues, surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family and getting the rest and exercise that help break cycles of stress. Daily walking for as little as 10 minutes can help reduce stress and improve circulation. Exposure to sunlight can help the body produce Vitamin D and appears to bolster the immune system while improving the function of mitochondria (the “furnaces” that produce energy in our cells), boosting cellular function and metabolism. In a more recent podcast, Dr. Huberman explores these relationships with a fellow doctor who specializes in Pulmonary medicine, Dr. Roger Seheult. https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-enhance-your-immune-system-dr-roger-seheult
Dr. Huberman also notes that trust can play a critical role in healing and reducing pain. This trust can take the form of religion, or be based on trust in others around us to help and support us. C. S. Lewis has expounded on this aspect of pain control in his work (published in 1940!) titled “The Problem of Pain".” In an excellent book review, “The Book Nook” provides these insights:
“What makes Lewis's treatment of Pain in this book remarkable is his refusal to offer simplistic platitudes. He confronts the problem of pain with intellectual rigor, philosophical depth, and emotional honesty. He doesn't claim to resolve all questions but provides a framework for thinking about suffering that offers hope without denying its profound difficulty.
The book is particularly powerful because Lewis speaks from personal experience. He wasn't writing as someone immune to suffering, but as someone who had wrestled deeply with pain, loss, and doubt. This gives his philosophical and theological reflections a raw authenticity that resonates with readers.
Here are the key insights:
1. The Nature of Free Will
Lewis argues that genuine love requires free will. If humans were programmed to always do good or were prevented from making harmful choices, we would essentially be robots, not beings capable of true love or moral choice. Pain, in this context, is a consequence of free will - the ability to make choices that can harm ourselves or others. This freedom means suffering is not a design flaw, but a necessary condition for meaningful existence.
2. Pain as a Developmental Tool
Contrary to viewing suffering as purely destructive, Lewis sees pain as a critical mechanism for spiritual and personal growth. Just as physical pain alerts us to bodily harm, spiritual and emotional pain can alert us to deeper psychological or moral issues. Pain disrupts our comfortable illusions, forces us to confront our limitations, and potentially redirects us toward personal transformation.
3. Suffering as Divine Pedagogy
Lewis suggests that God uses suffering as a form of education. Comfort and constant pleasure can make humans complacent and self-centered. Pain, by contrast, can break down our ego, strip away our self-sufficiency, and create openness to deeper spiritual realities. It's not that God delights in our suffering, but that suffering can be a profound teacher.
4. The Theological Perspective of Redemptive Suffering
Drawing on Christian theology, Lewis explores the idea that suffering is not meaningless but can be redemptive. Just as Christ's suffering was understood as transformative and ultimately salvific, human suffering can have profound meaning beyond its immediate experience. This doesn't minimize pain but offers a framework for understanding it.
5. The Limits of Human Understanding
Lewis is careful to acknowledge that while these philosophical perspectives offer some insight, they don't provide complete answers. The problem of pain remains, at some level, a mystery. He argues for intellectual humility - recognizing that our human perspective is limited and that complete understanding may be beyond our current capacities.
Ultimately, "The Problem of Pain" doesn't eliminate suffering but offers a perspective that can transform how we interpret and respond to it. It suggests that pain, while real and often terrible, need not be the final word - that meaning, growth, and even hope can emerge from our most challenging experiences.
BOOK: https://amzn.to/3DOS4hJ “
While much has been learned about pain since the time this book was written, it is clear that at a theological and practical level, there is still a lot of truth to his philosophy. There are also suppliers of this book other than The Book Nook’s link to Amazon and it may be available at your local library.