how we’ve been trained to think about pain is mostly wrong and I’m here to share another perspective.

so many people [myself included sometimes] are focused on getting rid of their pain. as if the pain is only there to cause a problem and it needs to be erased.

but by erasing the pain we’re removing a pivotal tool and essential communication role embedded in our fascial system.

because pain is one way of our bodies can tell us about ourselves. pain is language, it is communication, it’s data and it’s information.

the problem isn’t pain. the problem is how we think about pain.

if you step on a nail you’d want to know about it right? you’d want to be able to take the necessary action to make sure it doesn’t get an infection.

well that’s exactly what’s happening in every other situation when we feel pain - the body is letting us know something needs our attention or adjusting.

the issue becomes when we don’t try to understand what the pain is telling us.

pain sucks when we try to ignore and erase it.

but what if, instead, we try to listen to what it is saying? what if we try to understand it?

trust me, I realize this isn’t an easy ask - to embrace your pain.

it takes time, it takes practice, it takes thinking, it takes being honest and open.

the good news…it’s doable and absolutely worth it.

are you ready to start interacting with your pain differently?

2 minute subtle shift…

the next time you feel that persistent pain talking to you try 1-2 of these as a way to think about pain differently:

1. pause and realize what you’re doing - so many times we’re on auto pilot we don’t think about all that we do.
2. see if you can hear the way you’re thinking about what you are doing - our thoughts cause physical reactions in our body so what we’re thinking is just as important, if not more important, than what we are doing.
3. get as specific and descriptive as you can on what the pain sensations feel like - this helps to start to turn pain into data instead of the enemy.
4. ask what this pain might be trying to tell you - there’s no right or wrong here and the first thing that comes to mind might not even make sense. just see what comes up. remember, we’re just trying to think about pain differently. we’re not trying to solve anything.
5. thank your body for telling you and let it know you are listening - this might be the hardest or weirdest part AND it’s necessary if you want to be comfy in your body for the long term.

see you next week, Brooke ✌🏻

ps: here’s my most recent example of this when I was feeling hip/back pain:

1. I was getting out of bed about to start my day.
2. I was thinking about all of the things I didn’t get done and how little time I had to do it all because I slept in.
3. the sensations felt deep, heavy, achy, a dull throb and almost stuck like.
4. the pain might be telling me to move more, take action, get out of my regular movement patterns, get out of my head and into my body, quit beating myself up.
5. I groggily put my hand on my hip and said to myself “I hear ya”.
6. as a result I went for a slow morning walk instead of sitting on the couch scrolling. my hip still has some ache to it but a lot less intense!