Grounding and Presence in Pain and Discomfort
Suffering = Pain x Resistance
There is a story that comes with persistent pain.
Often times we create pain as an arch enemy.
Pain is the messenger and we try to kill the messenger.
We may fall victim to it.
We may persevere through it determined to ever move onward, not let it get the “best of me.”
At what cost?
How many of you struggled with acute pain?
How many of you struggled with Chronic pain?
How about chronic and acute pain together?
The truth is we are all in an ongoing dance with this physical experience and it is how we relate to these sensations that determines its existence and influence in our life.
How we relate to pain and discomfort is determined by our whole life experience. Through our lived experiences around pain and injury our bio-electrical circuitry created live story lines to the experience of pain and discomfort in life. What we observed and heard and felt are connected to developing our own personal record of pain and discomfort. If it is persistent condition of pain then it is historically related to our capacity to cope. It bears resemblance to loss of control in life. It is emotional and it is real.
Awakening the Felt Sense in the Body
If we check, if we are really awake we can sense the undulations, moment to moment experiences of this internal environment of our body both physically and emotionally.
Pain is inevitable/ suffering is optional
What causes suffering?
We add to the unpleasant sensations and it arises when we have an aversion to the unpleasantness and we contract against the pain.
We fight it, Resist it.
Whenever we fight and resist what is, we suffer.
This contraction creates a separation or an opposition of no longer feeling whole, complete.
This is the grounds of suffering.
Remember this equation:
Suffering = pain x resistance.
If we allow ourselves to lean in and meet the discomfort the resistance recedes dramatically and our suffering eases.
We move toward resting in uncomfortableness we let go of the primary control.
I am present, I am grounded
We are fully here in the experience that is un-attached to any outcome but for the sensation of experiencing.
We are inhabiting the moment, listening, engaged fully in our bodies language of needs.
If there is no resistance then there is no suffering.
The Practice
“Bring stillness and single minded focus to healing”
1. Becoming mindful of sensations. Become awakened to our bodies sensations…Pause and feel the sensations pleasant, unpleasant, neutral. Give adjectives to the sensations and be more curious
2. Release the attitude. Forgive the resistance and become more interested in the sensation. Be kind to it
3. Sense the space and release the fixation on the unpleasantness. Area 1. is the central area of pain. Area 2. Part of the body with neutral and/or pleasant sensations. Come here and breathe this sensation throughout the body, to area 1. extend area 2 ( area 2 can also be the outer world such as sound, visual cues, scents)
4. maintain a quality of kindness ( Metta) to your wholeness ( Biology of belief)
5. Let others be present for you in loving support whether by emotional holding or physical presence, spiritual groundedness
Here is a grounding meditation practice I use with my patients/clients to bring home bodily awareness.