Greek Agon

Agony

Agon = contest

Here's a dramatic word! Most often I've heard it used to describe physical pain. "I was in agony!" Interestingly, its Greek roots imply mental struggle. Mental. Mind. Have you ever really been in physical pain? Had an accident? Suffered some injury? Physical pain is agony unless and until we remember that the body is chemically designed to handle it. The classic example of a dog bite will work here. A dog bites you. You're bleeding. Scared. In pain. And the chemistry of the body (a bona fide miracle) kicks in. You are able to watch yourself in the experience and give in to allowing the pain to be. Breathing through pain eases pain.

So what creates agony? The mind. It is the mind struggling for control. The mind wanting to understand. The mind quantifying experience. Agony is not a physical problem so much as a mental one. Its root means contest, not in the sense of sweepstakes or lottery, but as a verb, namely, con-TEST. When you contest a will, for example, you are con- = against the will. Basically, agony is the result of being against anything. Pain, a will, a friend, a political position. The solution to agony is a simple giving in. Give in to whatever experience you're having. Set down the idea that you ought not to be having that experience. You don't know where or when it might be valuable to you in life. Catch a new thought. Agony, except in the direst circumstances, is usually a choice. Ask: How am I allowing agony to rule in my life today?

Infinition:

I deliberately turn my powerful mind toward any agony I am feeling. As I give in and let the experience teach me, any agony eases itself.

Dr. Susan Corso is an omnifaith minister. What matters to her isn't what you believe--it's that you believe. A published author, a speaker, a corporate consulting chief spiritual officer, a spiritual counselor for over 25 years, she is radically open to life's next adventure. Those intrigued are warmly invited to explore her website http://www.susancorso.com and for spiritual nourishment, continually visit her personal blog http://www.susancorso.com/seedsforsanctuary

Agon _portrait of playful competition

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