Looking, I see that masochism is just introjected sadism. Sadism is just introjected masochism, which is to say an internalized compass that seeks failure and pain, and rejects the life and light that ought properly to flow through all of us.
I am listening to the audiobook “Born To Run”, and the point has been made that perhaps the superlative achievement of elite athletes is excellence combined with heartfelt joy. In fact, joy in motion is what LEADS to true excellence. In my own terms, excellence without joy is heartless and mechanical.
We were all born to be happy. I truly believe this. ALL of us, no matter how troubled and traumatized, have this capacity. Our two choices are to feed our light, or extinguish it.