The only value suffering has is that it points out that you’re running low on happiness. The function of suffering is, therefore, to remind you to choose happiness, choose love, choose healing, choose forgiveness, choose laughter, choose freedom. Thus, the most helpful response to suffering is to use suffering as a chance to hit the “re-set” button in your life, and commit once again to what is truly important.
To be happy, you must value joy more than pain. You want to remind yourself again and again that suffering cannot buy me happiness.
— Robert Holden, PhD, Happiness Now! p. 113-114