The wise messenger in disguise

Pain. 

Whether we are talking about emotional pain or physical pain, it’s something we all feel, and it’s also something we try to get out of as soon as we can. 

At some point, you’ve probably tried to silence it, push through it, numb it, medicate it, or avoid it. Or maybe all of those things. 

I’m writing about pain this week because I’ve been having nerve pain in my arm that is coming from my neck. Ouch.

There have been a few moments where I wanted to yell- “give me all the drugs to make this go away.”  

And perhaps, if a genie with a magic drug had appeared in that moment, I might have taken it without asking about the cost or the catch.  Because if there were a genie granting wishes, there would absolutely be one. But, I digress,  genies and drugs aren’t the point of this detour; what we will do to get out of pain is. 

And while pain is a complex, nuanced, never-ending topic, I want to offer my own reflection relevant to my week and my nerve impingement. 

Too often, I can rush to escape the pain without asking:

Why is pain here in the first place? 

From an ache in your body to a pain in your heart, or a twist in your gut, pain is a messenger that we often dismiss.  Pain is a signal that something is wrong or out of alignment. 

When we listen, it might reveal an old wound that needs tending, needs that have been ignored, or limits that have been pushed.

We tend to see pain as the enemy, but it’s really your companion in getting back to harmony and wholeness. 

When I sat with my pain, it revealed itself as incredibly wise and persistent. It spoke to me about what lay beneath the surface of a repetitive movement pattern, delving into the depths of my own pattern of trying to carry and hold too much alone, ignoring my own knowing, what was really irritating my nerves, and confronting old beliefs that felt too big to deal with.  But through that inquiry, pain also revealed the whispers of desires and wants that I hadn’t fully allowed in. 

Turns out, pain can punch through the bullshit to reveal the truth. 

So this week, try sitting with your pain, whether physical or emotional, and simply ask: What are you trying to show me? 

Just start by listening.