THE PURPOSE OF PAIN

When I was in my twenties, I had a bad back. When it slipped out, I would list like the leaning tower of Pisa. If the back went out for more than a few days, I could be sure other things would follow – like my knees. At its worst, I would shuffle about like an old man, and was convinced carefree youth was gone forever.

Last week, in the middle of a Pilate’s class (which can be torture to begin with) my back popped out again. The pain was excruciating. Instead of giving in, we worked with it, and learned what I do to exacerbate the problem. By the end of class, my back hummed happily and was stronger than ever.

Back pain can be intense, and many people suffer it. But it many cases, it need not be chronic. With the proper advice, exercise and awareness, we can learn to use ourselves in a way that keeps the spine aligned. A key ingredient seems to be consciousness. Without it, I would have been destined to a life of chronic back pain. With it, I made choices that reduced the incidents almost completely.

Pain has a funny way of letting us know, not that it’s necessarily over, but that it is ‘over there’. It can be a reminder that something needs our attention or that we need to shift a little in our behaviour or thinking.

Truth without consciousness is lived as fate. With a gentle and accepting awareness many problems that we face can be transformed through slight adjustments to how we live.

Pain need not signal the end. It might simply mean it’s time to change direction.

Have a great week, and Happy Spring!