By Dennis Merritt Jones, DD
Your Body Is Trying to Get Your Attention The Question Is, Are You Listening?
“We are not so cold-blooded as to say to a person with pain that there is no such thing as pain. That is not our idea or purpose. We admit the fact. IT IS QUITE A DIFFERENT THING TO ADMIT ITS NECESSITY. “ ~ The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes
When was the last time you had an intentional conversation with your precious earth-suit—the body in which you live? Yes, it can communicate with you and, if you are like me, it is likely that your body usually starts the conversation with some sort of pain or discomfort. It’s by no mistake that pain plays such an important role in our conscious evolution. Physical pain, eventually, will gain your undivided attention. The question is, are you listening when it knocks on your door—or do you ignore it and try to muffle its voice?
Spiritually speaking, we know we are not just our body; we know we are far more than a swirling mass of atoms, protons, and molecules manifesting as so many pounds of human flesh and bone. However, let us not underestimate the importance of this clay house we temporarily occupy. Our body exists in its own field of innate intelligence—it is profoundly wise and, at many levels, knows what it is doing; not only does it know how to gain our attention, it will attempt to heal itself when given the opportunity. Too often, when pain arises, we rush to the medicine drawer, liquor cabinet, refrigerator, or otherwise try to muffle the messenger with one substance (or activity) or another—anything to avoid it.
Your Body Is On a Long-term LeaseThink of your body as an automobile because, in a manner of speaking, that is exactly what it is—a vehicle your soul-self leased to ride in on its journey through the terrain of the human condition. It has been said our body is very much like a carbon-based, biodegradable, disposable vehicle that requires regular maintenance as long as we continue to use it. Recently, this truth became even more obvious after having a bike accident that left me with torn, fully separated rotator cuffs on both of my shoulders. I knew I had to make peace with the messenger of pain, and I knew it wouldn’t go away until I did. Rather than pushing back at the intense pain I acknowledged its presence and that it had my FULL attention—and asked it to reveal the message it had for me.
My Question (to the pain):Why are you being so persistent—what do I need to know more about you so you can be on your way?
Answer (from the pain):
Humility—you need to learn to be open to being served; to receive from others who extend themselves to you with no strings attached.
Compassion and Empathy—you need to hold a deeper sense of caring for others (as well as yourself) who are in pain and who suffer in ways you never imagined… until now.
Appreciation—for what is right with your body and the body of your relationships…and for the simple gift of your life; your blessings are abundant.
Gratitude—for your surgeon, including the skilled nursing staff and physical therapists—and for other “caretakers” (aka, my saint of a wife, as well as strangers on the street who went out of their way to ensure or ease my comfort).
Patience—for the natural healing process as it unfolds within this body, trusting as its innate wisdom leads the way—and patience with other people (both friends and strangers) courageously living with chronic pain with no end in sight.
Trust and Surrender—be willing to literally “Let go, and let God” and trust the process. Rather than push against the energy of this pain, transcend it by mindfully breathing deep into it and being present with—and in—your body. Find the balance between being and doing—become more aware of the choices you make that have obvious consequences. When you can consciously be here “now” you merge your being with your doing and can witness your choices in the present moment where they usually serve you better.
Forgiveness—for yourself for inflicting such needless guilt, shame and pain on yourself—such as, WTF were you thinking at 72 years of age when, of your own volition, you jumped on an electric bike that was bigger than you?” And, let’s not forget forgiveness for others who, over the years, have inflicted pain on you as well; they too, were your teachers.
Willingness—to know there is more to know on the other side of this experience and that it is not yours to deny the pain that comes into your life—but to listen to it; to use it to ascend, to live so mindfully proactive in your body that you no longer require the motivation of pain to shape a life truly worth living.
There were more responses to my question—but I trust you get my point. Often it is through our greatest pain, rather than our greatest pleasures, that we find our way back to the wholeness of who we came here to be. We just need to be still and listen for the guidance our pain offers. Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet, echoed these sentiments perfectly when he wrote, “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know your pain.” Sometimes it’s the deepest pains we suffer that can open us to receive the guidance we need to stay on the pathway. After all, that is why we came here in the first place—to go where the infinite pathway leads. Love your body, treat it well and listen carefully to what it has to say—it’s wiser than you know.