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guej
115 Posts |
 Posted - 06/19/2009 : 10:15:17
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So glad I found this forum. After suffering with chronic back and leg pain for almost a year, (and I mean 24/7, on pain killers, life-changing pain), I found Dr. Sarno's books and knew I had hit the jackpot. Nothing that I heard or read all year struck a cord the way his books did. Anyway, I went to see him in NYC and I'm just starting the program.
Unfortunately for me, I'm not one of those lucky ones that can just read a book. Having lived with my ever present buddy "pain" for a year, I have some major incorrect thinking to undo, and some new thinking to absorb. I love WebDan's ideas and I've already started to create my affirmations which I'm hoping to record soon. I've also read and seen the DVD "The Secret", so I am a little fearful of using the word "pain" a lot because it seems to unconsciously reinforce its existance in me. What I decided to do was substitute the word "discomfort" wherever I would normally use the word
"p-a-i-n". Believe me, "discomfort" is putting it lightly for what I feel on a daily basis, but I'm trying to think of it that way, because it's much less ominous, and I can certainly live with a little "discomfort". The other word is so threatening and keeps me mentally where I've been for the past year, which is feeling hopeless and chronic (or never ending). I thought about myself as a chronic "p" patient for these past months because that's what I was told by various medical professionals who can only speculate on what caused it and because it hasn't resolved, have told me I need to learn how to manage it because it rarely goes away on it's own. So...that word just conjures up all the fears and dispair I've felt this past year. "Discomfort" minimizes the physical symptoms in my head, while I work my way through this educational process.If there's nothing seriously wrong with me physically, and I know that now, then what I'm feeling is "discomfort" due to a physically harmless mindbody process that I will undue. The other word just seems to connotate and reinforce physical severity. I've only been doing this for a few days, but I think it's the way to go for me. Good luck to everyone! We deserve normal lives again, and hopefully, even better ones than what we had before. |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2009 : 10:56:31
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When our minds are so occupied with the pain - it's actually pretty difficult to come up with affirmations or afformations (questions) of a positive nature that don't mention the word pain.
My latest efforts with these afformations is to not mention the negative at all and just focus on the positive.
"my body is strong, healthy and flexible"
I feel great.
I am confident and fearless.
I feel my body relax and accept myself for who I am.
I enjoy being me
I allow myself to feel and live my emotions.
I love to push myself physically and get stronger every day.
etc. etc. etc.
If these type of statements set off your Bull___T meter - turn them into questions.
Why do I feel great.
How come I love to feel my body relax.
Why do I let myself live my emotions and truly feel them.
Why is exercising so fun and fulfilling.
How come I love being me so much.
Enjoy the weekend!!!
Dan |
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crk
124 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2009 : 18:57:56
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Guej - glad you found us! I think this site is a great way to get some ideas and help.
One aspect of the affirmations that comes back to me again and again is this idea of getting the focus off the pain. But I believe it has to go further: get the focus off the body altogether!
Are you in pain because you do not believe that your body is ok? I propose that is NOT the problem. Working towards believing you are not hurt is part of the journey for sure, but the pain is there not because of muscles, tendons and joints - it's there because of THOUGHTS ABOUT YOURSELF.
Please let me know what you think of this idea. If all, or nearly all, of the affirmations are about your psyche rather than your body, I believe you will not only cure your tms, but you will have cleared up the mental illness -pardon the harsh term - that made it happen in the first place.
If this is the goal, then the affirmations will be mostly about your self-worth, your power, your determination, your awesome qualities, your lack of fear, your balanced lifestyle, your autonomy, your confidence....
I'll stop there, but you get the idea. Let me know what you think. |
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PRCalDude
49 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2009 : 21:30:16
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quote:
I've also read and seen the DVD "The Secret", so I am a little fearful of using the word "pain" a lot because it seems to unconsciously reinforce its existance in me. What I decided to do was substitute the word "discomfort" wherever I would normally use the word
Yeah, DO NOT mention anything negative in your affirmations, like "pain." It will only re-inforce the negative and your subconscious will cling to it. Your affirmations should be short, simple, and should be of something that you want, but stated like you've already obtained them. For example, "Back healthy" is a fine affirmation.
Dan,
John Kehoe says it's fine if you don't believe your affirmations, you just have to repeat them. It's sort of like administering a drug. Over time, they'll have an effect. In fact, Kehoe says that trying to convince yourself that a particular affirmation is true nullifies the effect of the affirmation. Don't force it. (pg 29, "Mind Power Into the 21st Century." |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2009 : 17:15:20
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PRCalDude: I agree with you on not having to believe the affirmations. The issue isn't whether or not it will eventually work. It's more a matter of fighting the BS meter and actually continuing to do the affirmations until they DO work.
I think if the BS meter goes off and we don't believe them - it's possible we will start to feel silly and just stop the process before it's done it's job.
That's why Noah St Johns approach of turning the affirmation into a question could be an alternate approach. Personally, I like the questions - but can definitely see affirmations working as well.
In the end, these are two similar approaches to the same end goal. Reprogramming our mind to believe that which we want to believe. That we are healthy, strong and empowered.
Thanks for all the feedback. I'm learning so much from all of you as a result of these discussions.
Dan |
Edited by - Webdan65 on 06/22/2009 17:17:34 |
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Subconscious programming - what worked for me.
