I love this post. I agree that growth often results from pain and suffering - how painful it's been to face my demons and recognise them, and know that they are a transformative tool for growth rather than hide from them or pretend they don't exist - that only makes them stronger. Pain is so transformative, and I think in that light pain becomes easier and such an important part of life's journey and growth cycles.

I loved your stockholm syndrome analogy too. we are all captive because it's so damn hard to fight and resist. it's interesting how revolution just creates the same situation again - orwell explored this of course in animal farm and his political musings.

when we see change as part of the day to day, minute to minute, moment to moment part of life then we can embrace it more fully within ourselves and in possibilities for the world. I am so resistant of 'tradition' i.e it's always been that way - because what if that way has not been successful? what kind of argument is tradition then? Why fall back on familiar when there is so much potential in the unknown, the things that make us uncomfortable? Ah... So much growing to do, us human beings... so much potential...