Do you still say “something in me” if it’s real pain you’re feeling? Read on…
Alexandra writes:
I know the power of saying “something in me.” However, right now, recovering after an accident, with a knee surgery, pain and all the discomfort, it’s hard to get bigger than the pain.
Its feels unjust to only say “something in me is feeling pain.” How do we make sure we’re not ‘belittling’ the feeling and the system does not feel ignored?
Dear Alexandra:
I appreciate you for not wanting to belittle your feelings… and for noticing that physical pain doesn’t work the same way that emotions do.
With emotions, you can say, “I am sensing something in me is anxious,” and it’s not disrespectful. You are creating a relationship with “something” that is anxious. It appreciates that.
Physical pain is different. It’s not an emotional state, it’s a bodily signal.
You can use the “something in me” language very effectively with the feelings about the pain: for example, “Something in me is worried this pain will get worse,” or “Something in me is so annoyed about how much pain there is.”
As for the pain itself… I find it is valuable to simply feel it with awareness. Let the word “pain” float away for a while, and describe the sensation… just as it is. When the description fits, there may be a kind of relief. Everybody appreciates being listened to — even pain!
Just remember, your body isn’t trying to hurt you. It simply hurts. So it’s good to receive the message, and say: “Yes, I feel how much you hurt.” Sometimes this surprisingly helps!
