To watch the video included in today’s post please go to the Just A Thought website. Please click here.
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
When I was about 23, I was dropped off from work by a friend and rushed across the street without looking because I was late to pick up my daughter. I was hit by a car, tossed up on the windshield and broke it with my head. It was an event that changed the rest of my life.
I had no broken bones and didn’t even go to the hospital, but it triggered genetic fibromyalgia and a knee-tear.
I have lived with pain ever since.
Over the years, I’ve had multiple surgeries, all of which still hurt to some extent. Most recently I had to have a back fusion and it’s been a very long recovery. Pretty much all my surgeries stem from those accident injuries which caused my body to be out of alignment for many years.
I am often, of course, pissed off about this.
And I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t hard days. But there are things I’ve learned from pain that I think have been good life lessons for me.
- Depression and self-pity will increase the pain.
- Tension (body or mind) will increase the pain.
- Fear not only increases the pain, my PT says it actively prevents recovery.
I need to listen to my body and rest when I need to, but not become immobilized either.
My pain is actually signaled from my brain and so working on my beliefs and mental health is one way to decrease the pain. Smiling is particularly helpful!
Why am I bringing this up?
Because I think these are lessons we need right now.
- Some of my friends and family are in a constant state of fear, outrage and depression.
- They are stuck watching the news and spiraling.
- They are whiplashed with crazy claims, commands, directives and statements. I find myself in a similar state from time to time.
Any martial arts instructor will tell you that the most effective way to fight is to relax, become flexible, and control or remove your fear. A constant state of fear makes us LESS effective.
How can we combat this?
Here are some things I have done to help my pain. Maybe they have life lessons as well.
- I let myself feel my feelings but put a limit on it. I sit with sadness, fear and anger, but then hold up a stop sign in my mind. About 10-15 minutes is enough.
- I get perspective. I remember that my condition is not fatal or even degenerative. I remember others are suffering with things much worse.
- I imagine my pain as a crazy cartoon character and then I zap it.
- I have a list of things that give me joy and I read it. I try to think of these things when I feel pain.
- I try to take walks and enjoy the natural world. The Scandinavians call it “Forest Bathing.”
- I take the actions I can take, no matter how small.
- I learned to say “no” and to not be the savior of the world.
Again, what might these tell us about facing other kinds of pain?
Burying my head in the sand isn’t helpful. But focusing on darkness is also not helpful. Limit my news intake, mourn the situation, feel the feelings. But then, put up a stop sign.
Perspective is helpful, especially historical perspective. I recently watched a documentary about 1970 and, wow — remember when cities were burning and riots were all over the country? Remember Vietnam and war protests? I remember thinking it was the end of America? In the 1980’s I thought we would all be dead from nuclear holocaust.
That’s just in my own lifetime.
History is full of evil but also full of good. Just be a power for good today in whatever way you can, using whatever skills and gifts you have. I am not responsible for the whole world. I am not responsible for all the change that needs to happen.
- I am just responsible for being a light, today, here, now. I cannot take that action if I’m consumed with tension, fear and despair.
- These days I feel my light and influence is very small, but I have to have faith that it matters.
Spiritual health is essential right now. I need to do the daily practices that help me stay close to my Higher Power and be of service. (aka: Love God. Love Neighbor.)
I will not wish us a pain free life because it does not exist. I will just give us hope that we can smile to the pain. By doing so, we can be more effective warriors for good!
Just a thought…
Eileen
To watch Eileen’s video please click the link