I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one – Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou I’ve Learned: Pain and suffering are fairly normal – it is what we do with this pain that makes the difference. Maya Angelou’s quote talks to us about facing these pains. It is natural to feel sorry and sad about this pain. And the next step is self-pity. But beyond these phases, we will need to think about how we get out of this. There are two aspects to this quote – one is about how we face this pain. The second one is about how we project this pain on others.

maya angelou quote pain, don't be a pain even when you are in one, maya angelou self pity, maya angelou pain quote
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. – Maya Angelou

Our misery can carve a path for progress and people will be willing to help us. It is in our best interest to focus this effort on solving the problem than feeling sorry for it. This is where projecting our pain and being mindful of others is very helpful. That’s the central meaning of Maya Angelou’s quote that talks about dealing with pain in life.

Hurt is normal, isn’t it? The first reaction to hurt is to go into a spiral of self-pity and feel like a victim. Although this feeling has its own place, it is short-lived. We can’t go on living like a victim and in self-pity. It only gives us a sympathetic nod. If you want results, you ought to find a way yourself and take control of your life just like everyone else.

Maya Angelou I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one

Self-pity, sadness and the sense of dejection are hard to be around. It feels worse when we feel helpless and unable to be useful for the people we care about or love. Sadness has a way to spread just like joy or happiness do. If we are feeling the pain, unfortunately, the only person that can help us is ourselves. We have to take the responsibility of finding the way out and creating a path for someone to help us too. Spreading this pain can help to give some sympathy and attention.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

Maya Angelou

However, it doesn’t solve the problem – our pain is ours only to deal with. No one else will be able to understand the complete depth of it. The best thing we can do is to be mindful of others too and appreciate that they might need help too. Amidst all this pain, we have to find a path for kindness and love because everyone is facing a battle of their own. Our pain is not bigger than theirs or vice versa. But if we have the power to influence someone and make them feel better, it would be an utter waste not to make use of that.

No one is to say what’s the right solution for you. Only you can decide, but temper it with kindness and compassion – both to yourself and the world around you. Ultimately, if you are harsh on others, you can be harsh on yourself too and that does no good to anyone.

I’ve learned Poem

This quote is taken as an excerpt from the poem that talks about the value of not being a pain. It packs a lot of pain and misery that sometimes becomes a part of our lives. But, we don’t have any control over this misery. The best thing we can do is to learn to deal with it. Sometimes, dealing with this is about moving forward in life whereas some other times it is about learning to cope with it. This misery never leaves us alone, but we can get better by taking care of ourselves and respecting that pain has a place in our hearts. We deal with pain just like everything else in life.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one poem
Maya Angelou, I’ve learned

We can’t trouble others with our pain – it only gives us sympathy. If we want a solution, we have to figure out a way to live beyond this misery, and identify what helps us. Our help can only be found within – no one else can give us these answers, unfortunately. It will be a hard journey, but it is our journey to feel, face and move beyond what the hardship is.

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”


Discover more from Inspire99

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Vinay Nagaraju

Product Director with 10+ years in leadership roles - team building, product strategy, coaching and mentoring are a part of my everyday responsibilities. I write about motivational words that inspire us and shape our thinking and help us go beyond these thoughts to find what our minds are telling us and evolve.

This Post Has 2 Comments

All we need is a spark to engage a fantastic conversation, please leave your thoughts to inspire our readers

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.