I’ve said more than once I’m a sucker for a well articulated thought or a collection of words that have specific meaning to me.

This phrase hit my ears last night and it struck me three ways simultaneously.

Number 1:

You’re a HUGE PAIN in my ass…

A severe inconvenience we choose to tolerate because we think it noble or necessary.

Last night I spoke with two different fellow executives who shared considerably different stories but ultimately can be categorized by their tolerating huge pains in their organizations.  The first is an entitled 3-month-in employee who genuinely felt he should have been consulted on how performance bonuses were distributed for the company. 😂

The second story was more disturbing as the big hurt has decades of leadership training but still behaves more like a mediocre mid-level manager, demanding respect through authority and steering communication hierarchy, overwhelming process and riding in on their high (white) horse 😡…when they should be educating, entrusting and empowering.

Number 2:

HUGE PAIN can be a level of intractable physical pain that words cannot describe and most people cannot comprehend.  I know this subject well but have been reminded by medical professionals and those who suffer from it that I know nothing if I can’t feel it.

One of the founders of the Minnesota medical marijuana distributors shared with me the story of the soldier in Afghanistan  who was badly injured with a bullet in the back and how good he felt on marijuana but is also a very law abiding citizen so returning to the states posed a conundrum.  Opioids are no long-term solution.  Finding relief proved to be a significant challenge with potentially fatal side effects.

Number 3:

A broken heart can cause HUGE PAIN.  Commonly described as an ache…but I’m here to tell you that any amateur who writes off a broken heart or a crushed soul as an ache hasn’t really been hurt, they were simply bruised.

We each have stories of pain and injustice, whether rooted in good intentions or a product of addiction or some other primary factor.

No matter the source or severity of your pain, there are solutions at your disposal.

*If employees, you can educate or exit.

*If intractable pain, there is mitigation through medication or meditation.

*If emotionally-based, there is time to help fade the memories and eventually allow for absolution.

Nothing is dire.

Have a blessed weekend!