WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FEEL PAIN?

WHICH PAIN IS REAL? WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FEEL PAIN?

Now, it’s not that the pain we feel is not there. It is....But pain that signals actual danger is different than a pain pathway that has been built and continues to be triggered even when no injury or reason for it remains.

How do we tell the difference?
The first thing is don’t believe everything you feel, every thought you have, and every emotion that is felt. I don’t say this for you to become a cynic or untrusting. Quite the opposite. 

We are here to build absolute confidence in your ability to know what is "real" and what isn’t. I say this because it invites listening and exploration. If you don’t believe everything that happens you have to find out what is true. 

In order for you to be able to determine "real" pain from conditioned pain we must have an interest in listening and exploring to see what is there. So let’s explore pain…

If a voice inside pops up and says "I don’t think you should do that" and it’s not your usual chatty self. It just pops up to your surprise… this is probably your body letting you know you are not ready. There is a "real" vulnerability. But, if this voice is your usual inside chatty voice that tells you over and over "I can’t" or "I should be able to" or "watch out" this probably is a learned response. Likely something to be explored to see if it is true.

STEP ONE:
The first skill you will need to learn is to listen to what’s going on in your head, your body, and your heart. May sound easy, and in a way it is, but we are conditioned to get lost in the things we usually think about, the emotions that usually come with the thoughts we keep having, and lost in sensations that arise from stress and the ways we experience life. If you give yourself time to listen, and find yourself lost in the usual things you think about without even noticing how you got there…that’s o.k. if this happens. Be really kind to yourself if this happens when you try to listen. Just keep re-committing to be there, to seeing what’s there, to listening.

Some people like to come back to feeling their breath when they realize they have gotten lost. If this helps, then do so. Our agenda is just to take time to slow down and listen to who’s there and if we get lost along the way our job is to extend kindness and support to that person. 

No matter what....We are not condoning any kind of behaviour or thought… just allowing whatever is there to be heard and supported with kindness. So to clarify, I am not asking you to stop thinking… to be in what people misinterpret as what must happen when you meditate "properly". I am asking you to be very present or conscious of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they happen.  Just sit back and relax and have a listen.

See if you can start each day, or whatever timing makes sense, with the intention of having 5 minutes a day to listen. You don’t have to actually do it. Just the intention.  Make it really clear why you have this intention. For example "Because I know I have pain everyday…I value ease and comfort so much that even though I don’t yet know how this listening practice will help bring ease and comfort, I want to find out if this can help me". Or whatever your words are. Eventually once you find this intention is part of your daily life, it is top of mind, you will see the opportunities to act.