by Chia Chia Cheng, L.Ac.
You’ve likely had this experience. As a younger version of you, you were able to pull an all nighter, sleep it off in a day. You were back at work in 24 hours as if nothing had happened. Or maybe you sprained your ankle playing basketball, skipped the court for a weekend. Next week you were back on a pick up game for two hours. These are the small miracles of youth.
A few decades later, you’re living a different story. Your body takes longer to recover. Now it takes you twice or three times as long to get better. This is because the rate of healing is slower in the 4th decade and beyond. It’s also because you have accumulated injuries living as a young person. The body remembers.
Facing your current reality can be a heady experience. Your brain says one thing and your body disagrees resists your brain’s wishes and expectations. The two used to agree and now they have opposing ideas on participation and performance.
Don’t worry though. You can’t rewind and pull a “Back to the Future.” There is a lot you can do. Try these three strategies to get you through the stalemate between mind and body.
Focus on What You Have
Your body is made to move. At different stages of your life your body will have varying abilities of movement. This is how life in your body is meant to be. Ever-changing.
When you have an injury, it’s typical to focus on what you can’t do. Especially if you really enjoyed that one activity, e.g. running, skiing, biking, snowboarding, dancing, playing a sport, etc. Focusing on what you can no longer do will definitely push you into that rabbit hole of despair.
It is common for people to stay in that rabbit hole for a while. You may be in one now. If you are, I encourage you to shift your thinking. Here are alternative patterns for thinking about your situation:
- Movement is a privilege as well as a necessity.
- Shift your perspective on health and fitness.
- Accept pain as part of being human.
- Focus on what you can do.
I encourage you to be open to other forms of movement. Pilates, yoga, pickle ball are some options that offer multiple benefits while reducing the risk for further injury.
When you see fitness and movement as something that you should be able to have all the time, you are increasing your own suffering. You body will change and it will change on its own terms. Change is inevitable. The more you can adapt to these changes, the more you will be able to continue living an active lifestyle.
And because change is inevitable, I remind you that the pain you have today is temporary. Sure, the pain may have stayed around longer than you wanted it to. You don’t like that. I get it. I don’t like it either.
The pain you have had is not a forever state of existence. It doesn’t have to be.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Story
There is so much power in owning your experience and being able to share your story openly with others. Human beings are relational by nature.
When you share your story you are creating a mind body connection that will help you move beyond the state of feeling stuck. Just as your mind is powerful in its imagination, telling your story will take you out of isolation and into a place of expansion and connectivity.
You want to be seen and heard just like the person next to you. When you share your story of struggle with other people, you’re letting them know that they are not alone in their pain and suffering.
Being seen can be very healing for both seer and the one who’s being seen. Here are some benefits of telling your story to others:
- Sharing may help you discover insight(s).
- Finding or leaning into a community for support is good for your mental health.
- Confronting diversity builds resilience.
- Knowing your story increases self-understanding.
- Sharing can lead you to show compassion for others.
Everybody loves a good story. Yours doesn’t have to have a happy ending or a triumphant conclusion. Even working on your recovery is a great story. It reveals your motivation and tenacity as a person.
Think Positive
I think therefore I am. I am therefore I think.
Your mental health affects your physical health. Your physical health influences your mental health. You know where I’m getting at. How you see yourself is the foundation of who you are. And this determines how you experience your pain.
There is power in your thoughts. Your brain is the origin of both thoughts and emotions. What you think affects how you feel. How you feel affects what you think. How does your physical pain respond to your emotional state?
You do have control over how you see things and how you react to situations.
Numerous research has proven the benefits of positive thinking. Thinking positive allows you to take charge of your health, both mental and physical. Instead of living in fear and lack, positive thinking puts you in the seat of abundance. It also promotes the practice of gratitude. Feeling grateful increases your sense of joy in any given moment.
And you may not be able to have positive thoughts because of how long you have been in pain. Or how intense your pain is. The negative talk is real.
I’m sorry this is happening.
Remember it is temporary. You can move through this. You will move through this.
I can help you feel better so your body can do better. I can help your body do better so you can feel better. By using nutritional and herbal therapy, as well as acupuncture and body work.
“Each time you ask
For what you want
I see you being brave.”
Have you gone as far as you can go with what you know?
Are you ready to try something different and get out of your rut?
Are you open to asking for my help?
I believe you are ready for change. Call me at 503-939-9709 to get out of that rut.
