Day 8 So far so good .....

I feel like I have learnt a great deal about myself since reading Sarno and following the programme.

During the week I found the meditation part the most difficult. I've always found it trying to sit still (even before pain) although over the last few years blamed this on my pain. I felt being motionless worsened my pain as I focused on it and lacked any distractions. Therefore I always made sure I was on the move. I now realise that stillness forces me to connect with my emotions. I managed to meditate for five minutes and it was not as challenging as I thought it to be.

I'm looking forward to going for my second swim tomorrow. Today I drove for six hours straight, no back cushion, no stretching and although I have a few niggles the pain is a shadow of its former self.

Jill

 

I'm excited for you, Jill, this sounds like positive progress! I would definitely encourage you to keep working on the ability to meditate - whatever that ends up meaning for you - I think it's very different for different people, but a valuable skill no matter how its done. And I wonder if some self-compassion would be helpful for you. It can't hurt to start exploring that aspect - it turns out to be a missing link for many of us. Here's a thread where people are making recommendations:
http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/a-book-on-learning-to-love-yourself.1745/

Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

Jan

 

Hi Jill,
I just never thought I could meditate. I never thought I could get my mind to shut up. My mind yaks, yaks & yaks. when meditating it just yaks slower.... still yaks. Be very proud of 5 minutes. I find meditation slowly reduces my pain until it almost disappears. You could do 5 minutes 3X each day if you wanted.

 

Hi Jill.

Have been a long time meditator & find if I need
to counter myself I lie on the floor (rather than sit)
as it helps ground my thoughts, allowing myself to relax
into the floor. Always I breath through my abdomen,
counting the breath in & out...1...then in & out 2 up to 5
and then begin again. Sometimes I imagine I am
bringing up the breath through my toes.

Another tip is to imagine yourself looking down
at yourself from above. Almost remove you from
the meditation. You observing you meditate.

Namaste!

Pete