In life, we are often taught to avoid pain. When heartbreak comes, when grief floods our hearts, when life delivers unexpected wounds, our instinct is to run. We turn to distractions—food, television, alcohol, work, social media—anything that numbs what we don’t want to feel.

But here’s the hard truth: avoiding pain doesn’t make it go away. It only makes it last longer.

The Buffalo’s Lesson on Facing the Storm

There’s an incredible lesson we can learn from the buffalo. Unlike other animals that try to outrun a storm, the buffalo does something counterintuitive—it runs toward it.

Why?

Because by facing the storm head-on, the buffalo moves through it faster. While other animals, like cows, run in the opposite direction and stay in the storm much longer, the buffalo understands that resistance only prolongs suffering.

Now, think about your own pain.

When we suppress emotions, they don’t disappear. They get stored in our bodies, lingering in our nervous system, waiting for another moment to surface. Unprocessed grief, heartbreak, and trauma show up in ways we don’t always recognize—chronic stress, anxiety, patterns of self-sabotage, or even physical illness.

Numbing Pain = Delaying Healing

We live in a world that offers endless ways to escape discomfort. Instead of sitting with our emotions, we:

•   Scroll on our phones for hours
•   Overeat or drink to distract ourselves
•   Work excessively to avoid being alone with our thoughts
•   Jump into new relationships before healing from the last one

But here’s the paradox—while these distractions may temporarily numb the pain, they don’t actually heal it. They simply delay the inevitable. The unprocessed pain will continue to surface in different ways, repeating itself until we finally face it.

The Only Way Out Is Through

Healing begins the moment we stop running.

To truly move through heartbreak, grief, or trauma, we must allow ourselves to feel. This means sitting with discomfort, crying when we need to, acknowledging our emotions without judgment. It means breathing through the heaviness instead of stuffing it down.

Feeling is healing.

When we face our pain, we move through it. When we numb our pain, we extend it.

How to Move Through Pain Like the Buffalo

1.   Acknowledge What You’re Feeling – Instead of pushing emotions away, name them. “I feel sadness. I feel anger. I feel loss.” Simply acknowledging them reduces their power.
2.   Sit With the Discomfort – Healing happens in the space where we allow ourselves to feel without judgment. Meditate, journal, or sit in stillness. Let the emotions move through you.
3.   Avoid Distractions That Numb – Notice your coping mechanisms. Are you using food, alcohol, social media, or work to escape? If so, pause and redirect your energy toward mindful healing practices.
4.   Move Your Body – Emotion is energy in motion. Go for a walk, practice yoga, dance, or shake out tension from your body.
5.   Breathe Through It – Deep, conscious breathing signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to release emotions. Try slow inhales and long exhales.
6.   Seek Support When Needed – Healing doesn’t have to be done alone. Whether it’s a therapist, spiritual guide, or trusted friend, having someone to hold space for you can make all the difference.

Your Freedom Is on the Other Side

Pain isn’t meant to break you—it’s meant to transform you. When you stop running and start feeling, you allow yourself to process and release the emotions weighing you down.

So be like the buffalo. Turn toward the storm. Move through it.

Because on the other side of your deepest pain… is your greatest healing.

Are you ready to face your storm?