It is painful—BUT. It's like a muscle. The more you interrogate what you think and why, the less uncomfortable it becomes. It transforms into more of an intellectual exercise. It helps you become less reactive and more curious. I don't think the point is that after this work, you know all there is to know and you help out and you never fuck up again. There is no "after" the work—it's an ongoing process and I think, the most profound process a person can undertake. The idea is to build a humble, questioning, compassionate (for yourself as much as for others) state of mind that is open to being challenged and ultimately, wrong. To close out the muscle analogy, of course it will hurt in the beginning when you're using these muscles for the first time. But when you build up that strength, exercise that muscle becomes a release. It sets you free. It shows you it's your ideas that are wrong, not you as a person. I've been able to cultivate a sense of humor around the things I thought I knew but didn't, and it really helps. Thanks for reading!