A few weeks ago, I was sitting in the barber/beauty shop. My husbands barber does my hair too so it’s always a good mix of people in the shop. Imagine what happens when the barber shop collides with the beauty shop. It makes for some really interesting conversations. This week, the topic centered around being real with your pain – to be relatable.
As I sat in the chair getting my hair straightened, I heard a conversation across the room about Beyonce’s new album, Lemonade. This was not too long after it dropped. It was still hot on the lips of everyone within earshot. One of the barbers had struck up a conversation with a beautician about the reaction to this new music. The beautician said that she felt like Beyonce needed to make this album. She felt like it made her so relatable to not be seen as perfect. The barber wondered why it would take knowing someone else’s problems to know that their life isn’t perfect. Her response was to mention Mary J. Blige. She talked about how much people loved Mary J. Blige when her music came from a painful place. On the flip side, when she got married and found her happy she lost fans. People couldn’t relate to her happiness. I remember that transition for Mary J. Blige. I remember she spoke on it at one point. She was surprised more people supported her sadness over her joy.
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Hearing the conversation while getting my hair done really got me thinking. Why is it people can seem to relate more with your pain but not your happy? Isn’t that sad? Can people really not be happy for you unless they know you are wallowing in the same pain they’re feeling? Can’t joy be as contagious as sadness? So many questions. I get that sharing our ups and downs is part of how we connect. But why is it seen as more relatable when something bad is happening as opposed to the good stuff?
I started to think about friendships I’ve had over the years. There have been some that I’ve had to walk away from because they were more than content to be Debbie Downer. Our conversations would always be me trying to lift their spirits about something they were dealing with. The thing is, not matter what I said, they’d find a way to focus on the negative. Or when I shared my struggles, they wanted to stay there. I want to share, support and figure out a way to move on. I’m not down with pitching a tent to live there.
After a while I’d find myself falling into their same mindset. I’d respond to situations with negativity. That’s not me. It wasn’t who I wanted to be. It took me making a choice to be different. To do different.
When I hear people say happiness is a choice, I’m in total agreement. It was a choice for me to look for joy. It was a choice for me to be positive. It was a choice for me to let go of the negative influences of others. Once you make the choice to be happy, it gets easier to choose your happy everyday. If seeing someone else in pain is the only way you can relate to them, is that OK? Start making the choice to be happy and to look for a rainbow or two. It will make it so much easier to celebrate when someone else is winning. You can celebrate their joy because you’re secure in your own.
14 Comments on Let me see your pain
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Maybe that’s the problem. People who haven’t experienced real joy can’t relate to people who have.
This statement is exactly what I was thinking!
I love it! It’s so important to feel comfortable enough to share your pain with your loved ones, but you don’t want to just wallow in it.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle recently posted…2016 Kia Sedona Review #SedonaFamily @Kia
I absolutely agree with your thoughts and feel this is because misery loves company. Some people get a certain satisfaction in knowing others are experiencing pain and heartache.
Marcie W. recently posted…Avoid Summer Slide With Sofatutor
Wow, I never really thought about this. I didn’t know that story about Mary J. Blige. It might be easier to empathize when you’re in a similar state of mind.
Liz Mays recently posted…Wafer Cookie Airplanes Inspired by Voortman Contest
I think people want to relate to happy on some level. I mean, look at Chewbacca mom. She is killing it with her infectious happiness. I don’t like to be around negativity and gravitate more towards people who have a positive outlook on life.
Great post about realization, that quote alone is enough to wake up some of us still dissolved in their own world of hurt.
Karlaroundtheworld | Karla recently posted…Roadtrip from Dumaguete to Cebu
This is a very motivational article.
I really like your saying about there is no need to pitch a tent and in live in one’s pain.
I like sharing my pain to my husband because it helps me cope up with it, and he also do the same.
I know many people who “pitch tents.” Like you, I am one to vent about my problems but then move on. I don’t like to sit and simmer in the problem.
Great post. I totally think we can choose to be happy or choose to live in our pain. yes, we experience pain. Everyone does. Work through it and get to your happy place 🙂
mary recently posted…How To Make Ratatouille | Disney Inspired Recipe
I love everything you’ve said here. That quote about pitching tents is gold. Will share on Twitter next week!
Daisy recently posted…Find Your Real Dream Job With This Surprising Mindset
What a great post and a great perspective. I really love that quote about pitching tents. I may have to use that one!
It is very sad that so many people are like that. I also think it’s sad if that is why Bey put out Lemonade, to make herself ‘relatable’ – that is definitely not a good reason! And I personally can’t stand that chick that whines about a cheating man but stays put. Leave Him. PERIOD.
As for Mary J. Sorry but it wasn’t because she was happy that she lost fans, there is a whole lot of mess there and that is not the reason she lost so many fans…..