A different way to look at pain.

Whether you struggle with emotional pain or physical pain, this sensation is one of the most challenging we can face.

I'm here to tell you that all pain is manageable and can sometimes seem to miraculously go away when you can learn to BREATHE with it. This is one thing that was shown to me during my first 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat in Montebello, Quebec.

When you practice meditation, you learn a lot about utilizing our ability of "mind over matter". Matter being defined as our present material experience, whether it is filled with pain, discomfort, joy or other sensations. We usually do struggle and create more pain in our lives because of our persistent focus on it- we tend to fixate on our pain. This is only natural because pain tends to scream at us for attention! When any pain occurs in the body, the best thing I can suggest is to sit, observe the pain and practice non-reaction. This practice happens over time. When you start focusing on the pain, bring your awareness back to the breath. Always, back to the breath. This can be done in seated meditation or anywhere when you are experiencing discomfort. Observe the breaths motion going in from the nostrils and then back out the same way. Continue this technique as often as you can.

Another way to practice this is in yoga class. When your muscles are feeling intense sensations which can seem painful because you've been in chair pose for two minutes or holding plank, your breath becomes your strongest power. It can guide you places beyond the painful sensations you're currently experiencing. So many thoughts can come into your mind when you're faced with a challenging exercise practice. Be careful that you aren't pushing your body passed a point of injery, but instead, become familiar with when you can push yourself a little more while staying in a safe zone. This defining line will become more apparent when you get to know your body and what it can do!

Lastly, a more recent way I have learnt to practice pain tollerance is to restrict the use of pain medications and pharmaceutical drugs. When I have a cold, I use herbal medicines that support my immune system but the pain remains, sometimes a little less intense but, it's still there. Likewise, when my period arrives, I no longer take naproxen, but rather soothe my tummy with a hot water bottle and rest. These simple practices of not relying of pain medications have been a huge part of learning how to cope with pain and practice mindfulness. Overtime, the pain seemed to dim and become less bothersome then they once we're.

Pain is a great teacher.

It teaches us how strong we are. It also teaches us how malleable we are, how quick we can change and evolve. Pain is a state of change. Understanding this and learning to tollerate pain will make you a mentally stronger individual. Overtime, difficult situations or challenging periods of life will seem less intense, and life will unfold with a bit more ease. Pain teaches us to flow like water and to let things come and go. No pain stays for eternality. It is constantly ebbing in and out of our lives, showing us where to grow.

Let us make room for pain when it arrives in our lives and see how strong you become.

With love,

Renelle B