What does hurt more? Our pain or being controlled by it?
When every aspect of our life is being affected by pain, we live under the shadow of pain. Pain or any other problem in our life can take over our control. We are affected by it. It does change our ability to be who we are.
We as humans have different abilities which are very interesting as some of them are opposite abilities. The same way that we have the ability for aggression, we are capable of submission as well. Many times we submit to the forces around us. But the worst battle we can lose in is submitting to the negative forces within us. Chronic pain or any other major problem for that matter can turn into catastrophe the moment we lose control to them. Now the real good news is:
WE CAN TURN THE TABLE AROUND!
Do you know why self management techniques like meditation, relaxation, guided imagery, cognitive therapy, etc. are so important and in many cases very effective? It is because You Gain Control. People who stand up to the daily fight of chronic pain know that none of these techniques really cure you of chronic pain, but all of them can help you to gain control of the situation instead of the situation stay in control. This turns the table and makes you as an observer of the situation, instead of being totally affected by it. Our views are different when we are inside of a space or looking at it from above. The eagle eye vision is so effective because it is looking from above into the landscape and is not trapped inside it. We would feel much better when we feel our whole existence is not being controlled by anything but our own decision. We may still have the same level of pain, but we would certainly suffer much less than before.
TURN THE TABLE, TAKE CONTROL.