Let us observe that when the soul begins to mortify itself, everything is painful to it. If it begins to give up comforts, it grieves; if it must give up honour, it feels torment; and if it must suffer an offensive word, the hurt becomes intolerable for it. In sum, there are never lacking sorrows for it until death. But as it succeeds in its determination to die to the world, it will find itself freed of these sufferings; and, on the contrary, there will be no fear of its complaining any longer, for the peace the bride asks for [in the Song of Songs] will have been attained.
Saint Teresa of Jesus