Ever since I can remember, I have tried to run from pain and discomfort, whether emotional, mental or physical. I, instead, would obsess, wonder, escape, run away, ask why, or inquire how long it would last. I wanted to feel good and would do whatever it took, pay tons of money, to make myself feel better. I HAD to feel better, my life depended on it, I would say!
One day, I decided to sit with the discomfort and go into the pain. Below are some things I learned along the way:
Many times our body stores our emotional pain that eventually can come out in disease or sickness. So I like to get into a room where I know I won’t be disrupted and I tune into my body. I start at my head, putting all of my focus on my head, and I see and feel what comes up. When I feel empty emotionally, I move on to the next body part and start the process again. I slowly make my way down my whole body. In doing this, it has allowed me to freely release the stored pain so I can move on.
In addition, I realized that when I made a decision to sit with my discomfort, my pain, and breathe through it, I discovered it wasn’t unbearable. I could totally handle it!! Doing deep breathing to calm myself down, I discovered it was my RESISTANCE to it that made it unbearable.
I don’t thank my body enough! I put it through a lot without every really appreciating ALL of its wonder and beauty. So I will say right now, I am so grateful for my body and its strength, endurance and love for me. It has taken on all of my pain so I could do what I do.
I would like to practice slowing down, listening more and being more gentle and present. Today I am breathing.