People feel more important and alive - even "spiritually" alive -
during times of suffering because crisis strips away superficial daily
distractions, forcing a raw, immediate focus on survival, meaning, and deep
human and/or supernatural connection.
Dangers: Person may start wanting
to suffer and/or others around them to suffer.
Subtle often invisible
trajectory towards letting suffering happen or last longer may arise. The
rationale is that the feeling shows it is happening for a reason.
Not
knowing is in itself a source of suffering. Mistrust will come if you think
people are getting a sense of spiritual, existential and emotional importance
from your suffering.
Suffering is forceful and one responds to it by
trying to feel important. One tries to be its match. Somehow one feels
important when something so big comes round. It is like how a tyrannical enemy
can make you on some level feel important - when you get their abusive
attention.
If God lets suffering happen and yet opposes it that
enhances its mystery.
Suffering instantly pulls a person into the
present moment - past and future seem pushed aside to an extent. But centering
that much on now means leaving those with past and future concerns behind.
The paradox—finding a heightened sense of existence through pain/abuse or
the pain/abuse of others—is rooted in a mix including psychology,
neurobiology, and evolutionary social structures. If something as good as
masochistic or sadistic is happening? Who can be sure?
Only the
individual can assess if it is a paradox or a blunt contradiction. If the
latter, it is meaningless - it is purely emotional.
If it is a logical
contradiction then fine. But human psychology does not necessarily line up to
logic. I am not saying the individual can really make something logical or
illogical.
Suffering should not be turned into some emotional
self-stimulant.
If all the problems are concerning - then spiritual or
religious influences make it worse. They are so personal and thus impossible
to correct - they are thus a severe danger.
Consider Social Comparison
Theory. On a less noble but entirely human note, seeing a peer struggle can
trigger downward social comparison. It provides a subconscious reminder of
one's own safety, health, or relative stability. This contrast can bring a
sudden rush of gratitude or relief ("Thank whatever that isn't me"), which
starkly heightens the awareness of one's own well-being.
Moreover you
do this to yourself when your suffering was in the past.
Objection: Not
all say enduring suffering or being among sufferers makes them feel more
important.
Reply: Logically it must. Suffering simply has to shatter
the mundane. If suffering is normalised that may not happen. It means if a
shocking new form comes, that will shatter. Normalising is itself gravely
dangerous.
Finally
Ultimately, suffering acts as an aggressive
reminder of mortality and vulnerability. Focus on word aggressive. You make it
aggressive. Toxicity arises. Whether it is happening to you or next to you, it
shatters emotional numbness and demands your full attention, which is why it
paradoxically makes the flame of life feel like it's burning much brighter.