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Discomfort is the motivational impetus for most animal/human behavior:

  Hungry -> Seek food
  Body hurting -> Seek palliative
  Cold -> Seek warmth
  Threatend -> Fight back
  Afraid -> Seek safety
  Aroused -> Seek mate
Suffering is just a more advanced state of discomfort.

Notably, in the case of pain, our receptors are triggered before the threshold where actual damage occurs owing to the uncertainty of when various parts of us will break. Many things cause us pain that are harmless (stubbed toe, etc.) and can safely be ignored provided you dispel the drive the avoid that discomfort. The same can be applied to other sources of discomfort.



We have a set of positive motivation systems as well. Achieve, acquire resources that are not currently critical. Sex-drive. Caring system. Fun-seeking. Etc.

See Jaak Panksepp's affective neuroscience.




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