BODY/MIND/SPIRIT INTEGRATION – Illness and Pain. Real or Imaginary?
Is that illness or pain you are experiencing a result of environmental or physical circumstances, or a way for you to avoid something else going on in your life? It is not uncommon for those “people who can’t say NO” types to develop physical symptoms that give them a “legitimate” reason to say NO without too much guilt. There is also that proverbial “I have a headache, dear” or “ I have a bellyache, mom, so I can’t…..”.
It is not to say that these aches and pains are not real , but becoming conscious about what is really going on can give us the opportunity to find better and less painful ways to deal with the underlying issues. Just saying “NO” to someone’s request for help and trusting that they will be taken care of, just not by you this time, can be a very loving way to take care of yourself. Understanding that the headache or bellyache may get you out of an unpleasant task or duty for now, but not really take care of the situation in the long run, can be the impetus for speaking what is truly on your mind and finding a better solution to the underlying problem.
Consciousness, paying attention to what is really going on in our lives, is the first step to wellbeing. It allows us to take care of ourselves so that we are better able to be there for others. Try it. You’ll like it!