The canary served as a warning to others and acts as early warning of possible danger.

“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.”  Project Happiness

When we receive the pain signals our tendency is to push through the pain.  Does any of the following sound familiar?

  1. I have no time to stop. I can function with only 2 hours of sleep.
  2. The job has to be done by me. No one else can do my job.
  3. No pain, no gain. Only weak people stop.

In Brené Brown’s book, the Gifts of Imperfection, she explores what gets in the way of our hapainess and joy.  Let’s relook at the above messages we live by.

  1. I have no time to stop. I can function with only 2 hours of sleep.
    1. Rest=Laziness. We associate our worthiness with how productive we are.

 

  1. The job has to be done by me. Everyone is counting on me.
    1. I can’t let people down. We are people pleasers. I feel guilty disappointing people. Your parents, children and pets remind you of their disappointment.

 

  1. No pain, no gain. Only weak people stop.
    1. You need to feel the burn to know how strong you are. You feel your strength.

With all of my years working with people with chronic pain, I have learned that pain always win at the end. You can’t beat pain. Pain is not your enemy and is trying to help you. The pain will be so unbearable and intolerable that you have to stop. The muscle spasms will stop you from moving. Remember the “Charley horse” during the race that brought you to your knees? You will disappoint people as you can’t get out of your bed. You will associate the burning feeling as loss of function and weakness.

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” –Alan Cohen.

When you listen to your pain, stop. Really stop.  Learn how to move smarter not harder. Rest will become your friend; give yourself permission to accept people’s help and become less guilty with disappointing people. When you listen to your pain, it will reward you with the dividend of good health.

Come and experience the Feldenkrais® Method where your learn how to practice these skills.

 

“We will be more successful in all of our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”
Thich Nhat Hanh