THE MIRROR OF SUFFERING
ALM No.93, September 2026
ESSAYS
A phoenix is a symbol of power and resilience. It burns itself in an intentional act of rebirth, and is born again from the ashes. The phoenix knows the pain that it must endure before it has the chance to be reborn, a chance to let go of the weary, aging body and attain a new and pure form. Despite the agony of the flames, the phoenix embraces the suffering because it allows the phoenix to reach a greater purpose.Its pain is not meaningless. It is the very thing that allows it to begin again,to continue its cycle of rebirth. Humans experience a similar relationship with suffering. Suffering can test them, and, over time, shape the meaning they find in their own lives. While humans naturally seek meaning and often grow through their misfortunes, suffering is not inherently meaningful or the only path to purpose. Instead, meaning comes from how people respond to their experiences and transform them into growth.
The phoenix accepts unimaginable pain because it knows that suffering leads to renewal. This raises an important question: do humans also embrace suffering when they believe it will give their lives meaning? In many ways,yes. People regularly endure hardship, and struggle in pursuit of goals, and ideals that make life feel more meaningful. Many forms of suffering are accepted because people believe the outcome is worth the sacrifice.. In today's world, many things considered normal are in fact harmful to us in different ways and people willingly accept consequences for things they value. Alcohol…harmful. Processed and fast food…harmful. Sugar…harmful. Social media…harmful. Time after time, humans choose short term pleasures over long term consequences. If people are already willing to knowingly accept harm for temporary rewards, it is not unreasonable to believe they would also endure suffering if they believed it would give their lives a greater sense of purpose. Humans are willing to endure harm because they often see something beyond the pain itself. A person may sacrifice their comfort to achieve success or push their physical limits to become stronger. The suffering isn't being valued by itself, rather it just becomes acceptable to people who believe that it will bring them something greater. This willingness to endure hardship suggests that people believe suffering can serve a purpose.
More than simply avoiding harm however, humans have an innate desire to find meaning in their lives. People seek purpose because it gives direction to their actions and helps them make sense of what they consider a success and a struggle. Viktor Frankl, a famous neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, once said “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how”. He believed that the search for meaning in one's life was the central human motivational force. Clearly he wasn't the only one who believed this as his ideas gave rise to logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy focused on helping people discover meaning in their lives. Now, you might ask me: “If humans are constantly searching for meaning, then what truly defines a meaningful and successful life?” Well, I'm glad you asked, true success is not measured by achievements like having a perfectly curated Instagram page, the newest iphone, or a bank account with more zeros than a person knows what to do with. Of course, there is nothing wrong with genuinely wanting these things or seeing them as goals. However, what I'm trying to show is that meaning goes deeper than just these external achievements, as Frankl explains, “My definition of success is total self acceptance. We can obtain all of the material possessions we desire quite easily, however, attempting to change our deepest thoughts and learning to love ourselves is a monumental challenge.” By understanding what Frankl is saying, meaning is not found solely through accomplishments, but through understanding oneself and finding purpose within personal experiences. This shows why humans continue to search for meaning, even through difficult times and even if they experience suffering in the process, because purpose allows people to see value beyond their struggles.
Although suffering can deepen a person's understanding of themselves and help them find greater meaning in their experiences, it is not the only path to a meaningful life. Some hardships inspire growth, while others cause unnecessary pain. Many people find purpose through love, curiosity, achievement, connection, and many other positive experiences rather than suffering alone. However, this does not mean that suffering has no value. Without hardships, people may have fewer opportunities to be challenged and reflect on who they are, leading to a less developed sense of self acceptance or meaning. That being said, suffering alone does not create meaning. What does is the way people react to their suffering. For example, consider two people who experience the same devastating struggle of addiction, (I just want to preface this by saying: addiction is an incredibly complex and painful experience, and these two outcomes do not represent every possibility, but they demonstrate how differently people can respond to the same suffering.) one person might interpret their suffering as proof that life has no greater meaning, causing them to feel trapped by their circumstances and remain trapped in their addiction. Another person might view the same suffering as a turning point recognizing the need to create a new sense of purpose, choosing to rebuild their life through what they learned from their suffering. The suffering itself did not create meaning, but it was the individual’s response to the suffering that gave them the motivation to find a greater meaning
The phoenix doesn’t rise from the ashes because the flames themselves are meaningful, but because of what it becomes after them. Humans are no different. Suffering doesn't have the innate ability to bring you meaning, instead, suffering is like a mirror. It reveals what people truly value in their lives, and it doesn't lie. In the end, meaning comes from the choices you make when you are suffering, not what the hardship is, or why you are facing it. In my opinion, every person needs to find their own sense of meaning in order to live a happier and more fulfilling life, it gives people a reason to keep moving forward. If finding that meaning requires enduring a few hardships along the way, then I believe it is a price worth paying, because the person who emerges from those struggles, understands themselves in a way they never could have otherwise. Like the phoenix, it is not the fire that defines us, but who we become after walking through it.
Mithra Raj is a 17-year-old writer from California who enjoys writing philosophy, academic pieces, fiction and short stories. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found reading or listening to music, often finding inspiration for her next idea in the little things around her. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine while continuing to explore her love for writing and storytelling.
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