"أساس جميع الأمراض العقلية هو عدم الرغبة في تجربة المعاناة المشروعة"

The essence of that quote is this: a lot of our mental struggles stem from avoiding real pain. We often escape, numb, or deny the hard stuff rather than face it head-on. This avoidance can build up, creating deeper issues over time.

Now, let's put this in context. Imagine you're in the early 20th century, listening to the wisdom of Carl Jung, a pioneering psychologist. Jung believed that true healing comes from confronting our deepest wounds and fears. He saw that many people were running from their legitimate suffering—grief, loss, trauma—instead of processing it. This evasion, he argued, led to neuroses and other mental health issues because those unaddressed feelings festered and morphed into bigger problems.

Take the story of John, a man who lost his job and felt the sting of failure. Instead of allowing himself to feel the disappointment and work through it, he turned to distractions—endless TV, drinking, avoiding friends who might ask how he’s doing. On the surface, John seemed okay, but inside, his unresolved feelings ate at him. He became anxious, withdrawn, and even depressed. His unwillingness to face his legitimate suffering—his job loss—led to a mental health spiral.

So, how do we apply this wisdom? First, we need to get comfortable with discomfort. It sounds odd, but embracing the pain when it comes can be incredibly freeing. You don’t need to wallow in it, but give yourself permission to feel it. Talk to someone about it, write it down, or even sit quietly and acknowledge it. By doing this, you're allowing the natural process of healing to begin.

Imagine this scenario: You're going through a tough break-up. Instead of jumping into a rebound relationship or partying to forget, you let yourself grieve. You cry, you talk it over with friends, you journal your thoughts. It’s painful, no doubt. But over time, you start to feel lighter. You begin to understand what went wrong, learn more about yourself, and gradually, you move forward, stronger and more self-aware.

Think about it—avoiding pain is like ignoring a leaky roof. You might not want to deal with the hassle and cost, but if you don't, the leak gets worse, causing more damage. Facing it head-on is tough, but it's the only way to actually fix the problem and prevent bigger issues down the road.

Here's the takeaway: next time you’re faced with something that hurts, lean into it a bit. Don’t run away. Feel it, understand it, and trust that you can handle it. It’s not about being a masochist; it’s about recognizing that legitimate suffering is part of life and, paradoxically, the way through it is through it. By doing so, you’re laying the groundwork for better mental health. It’s like building a muscle—the more you practice, the stronger you get at managing life’s inevitable challenges.