Pain and Stress Reduction – Practicing What I Preach

“We cannot tempt fate without eventually getting scorched by it”

-Ana Veciana-Suarez (Miami Herald columnist)

Sometimes I make bold claims, and immediately, I am challenged to test them.

I suspect this is a function of a certain part of consciousness arising… we are held accountable for our statements (by the deeper aspects of the mind)… this is an opportunity to deepen intent and resolve.

But it could just be that I ‘tempted fate’. 

Juggling pain, stress, and work can be a real challenge…

But using the powerful technique for Pain and Stress Reduction I covered in a recent post… I was able to do just that.

Some history on my back.

I was medically discharged from the Army for my lower back.

There was narrowing between L2 & L3 (lumbar vertebrae) with the possibility of Degenerative Disc Disease… blah, blah, blah.

What this means in practical terms is I have to keep my weight down to avoid back pain, and I have to avoid high impact exercise as much as possible… particularly running.

Most of the time, there is not much pain.  I wake up a little stiff in the mornings, sometimes.

Every so often… I experience serious pain in my back.

Shortly after the recent post, PeacefulProsperity.com/Online-Free-Self-Hypnosis-Pain-and-Stress-Reduction/, this is exactly what happened.

Lots of systems use a 1-10 scale as a subjective measurement of pain.  1 being very mild pain, and 10 being the worst pain you have ever felt.

The back pain I normally experience is around 1 or 2, with the occasional ‘bad morning’ raising it to a 4 or 5.

This pain was at an 8 or 9.

The interesting thing about serious pain (not just the pain you get when you cut your finger), is it brings up stress/emotional pain as well.

My back was hurting much more than it had in a while, and I started to wonder if maybe it wouldn’t pass this time.  Maybe I wouldn’t be able to play with my little girl as she grows up.  Maybe I wouldn’t be able to practice karate anymore.  Maybe I would be essentially handicapped in my mid thirties.

The pain was bad… but the fear was worse!

Stress and/or emotional pain (most of which is based in fear), when mixed with pain make for a miserable feedback loop which quickly turns into a downward spiral.

Although the pain didn’t go away, I kept using the 3 ahhs, as well as other relaxation and focusing techniques, and I kept the pain from getting out of hand.

When the stressful thoughts would arise, I would smile and do the 3 ahhs… and watch the stress, frustration, and fear begin to melt.

This did not eliminate the pain, but…

…It gave me the space I needed to let go of the fear and continue to live my life!

There is never any real guarantee of control of the exteranal world.  With sincerity of intent, and continued practice/focus, an increased level of influence definitely comes about.

But unplanned events still occur… karma still arises.  Or to borrow from a popular bumper sticker:  “Shit Happens!”

The 3 ahhs will not grant you control over all that arises in your life… but it will grant you control over your response… it will give you the ‘space’ from the stress and pain that will allow you to choose how you proceed.

And that is a serious step toward real happiness!

Here’s to your happiness…

keep smiling,

Benjamin

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