i like to think that the pain is the liberation required for the submission. If there was no pain then i would not be challenged to submit and therefore i would not feel properly submissive. i am only new to these sensations, but not being 24/7 and being required to be fairly “alpha” in my work, the whole idea of my submission could become quite superficial unless i am forced to focus on submitting to my Mistress – being challenged by the pain.

DowntownAmber’s analogy of the destruction and reconstruction is a great why to think about it – for me it is the deconstruction of all the “stuff” i may come with and the reconstruction of the submissive – leave it all behind – burning all the old emotional stuff away. Coming from the experience on a huge high. The cleansing and renewal given by Her in return for my submission in the pain.

Thanks DowntownAmber, your post was really clarifying for me!
Thanks Thrall for generating such great discussion