Pain and Discomfort in the Body

Pain and Discomfort in the Body

Pain and discomfort in the body are internal alarm systems that signal that something is wrong. It’s well established that mindfulness practices help, yet when experiencing pain or discomfort in their body, many people can focus only on the pain and what’s wrong, which fills their entire consciousness and hinders the mindful process.

What You Can Do Next Time You Feel Pain and Discomfort in the Body

Next time you experience pain or discomfort in your body, try “watching it”. What do I mean?

Stop what you are doing, sit or lie down and use your mind to observe the sensations of your discomfort. Become aware of the rise and fall of discomfort levels. Become aware of your ability to feel the discomfort and observe it at the same time.

There are many advantages to doing so. Firstly, by being aware of the discomfort and your ability to observe the discomfort, your mind is unable to focus solely on the discomfort. This has the effect of lessening discomfort.

Secondly, over time, you will begin to understand that you are something more than the physical discomfort in your physical body. This will have the effect of freeing your sense of self from whatever condition your body is currently in- this is liberating!

Thirdly, and perhaps ironically, you will actually raise your awareness of your physical body's needs by learning to observe pain and discomfort rather than identify with its immediate needs. This will mean you are more likely to explore ways to improve your overall health and well-being. This can only ever be a good thing…