Pain Pays Well, But Your Emotional Energy Is Priceless

Marketing, media, and entire industries focus on pain—our emotional pain. The pain of broken relationships. The pain of uncertainty in the world. The pain of not fitting in. Why?

Because pain pays well.

The global coaching industry is projected to surpass $7 billion by 2025, with executive coaching alone expected to be nearly four times that by 2032. Meanwhile, the therapy industry dwarfs these figures, highlighting both an overwhelming need and a lack of accessibility. But nothing compares to the medical industry, where chronic pain and mental health treatments generate hundreds of billions annually. The U.S. healthcare system alone spent over $300 billion on mental health and substance use disorders in 2020, and the pain management market is expected to exceed $150 billion by 2030.

Yet, have you ever wondered—what if there’s a different way?

Pain sells, and the industry is wired to solve pain—after the fact—not prevent it before. But what if the cycle of pain, treatment, and temporary relief isn’t the only path? What if there’s an alternative that puts you in control?

The Medical & Life Paradox

Doctors are paid to cure disease, not prevent it. The same is true for emotional pain. Society rewards those who diagnose, label, and prescribe rather than those who help us prevent suffering in the first place. Experts like Dan Buettner (Blue Zones), Dr. Peter Attia (Outlive), and Dr. Casey Means (Good Energy) argue that we should focus on prevention—not just treatment.

This applies to emotional pain, too. What if instead of managing symptoms, you could rewrite the script?

The Power of Choice: Emotional Energy vs. Emotional Pain

Each day, we choose where to direct our focus. We decide whether to stay trapped in frustration or to shift toward clarity and momentum. But how do we actually make that shift?

Here’s a quick way to test it yourself:

1. Rate your emotional energy from 1 (low) to 10 (high).
2. Think of a challenge you’re facing and ask:
   • Where am I right now?
   • Where do I want to be?

Notice what happens when you ask these questions. That’s your Internal Observer activating—the part of you that sees possibilities beyond pain.

What would change if you accessed this perspective more often?

Invest in What’s Priceless: Your Emotional Energy

Your greatest asset isn’t money—it’s your attention and time. You can spend them reacting to pain, or you can invest them in building self-trust, respect, and certainty.

CoreSelf Mapping provides a framework to break free from the cycle of emotional pain and reclaim your power to choose. By slowing down, engaging with your Internal Observer, and aligning your choices with your values, you can turn frustration into clarity and reactions into meaningful action.

What if the solution isn’t outside of you—but within you?

Ask yourself these questions, or check out our CoreSelf Positioning book.