Pain.
It’s an inevitable part of life.
And while you may choose to ignore, compartmentalize or run from it, there is no escaping it.
Loved ones will pass away. Your health may be challenged. Jobs may change and finances may fluctuate. And less recognized pain can develop when your relationships have trials and tribulations, you face differences with your children, and even when you just feel overwhelmed from the everyday stress of life.
“Pain is pain is pain,” says Dr. Adam Graves ND, LAc. No matter if you are suffering from a disagreement with your boss or fighting for your life with an illness, pain is pain.
However, just because you can’t avoid pain doesn’t mean you have to secretly suffer from it. Contrary to western culture belief, it is not pathological and doesn’t necessarily require prescription medication.
If you are searching for a new way to relate to your thoughts and feelings while using your pain to learn and grow – then welcome to Buddhist Psychology.
This philosophical approach to understanding pain differently than you have been taught can lead to a more peaceful and joyful way of living. Its centuries-old perspectives are highly valuable in our fast-paced, stress-filled lives.
And at CNMA, we are delighted to have our very own Buddhist Psychotherapist, Rachel Gordon, who specializes in transforming pain into healing and growth.
Sound intriguing?
Rachel Gordon
Here are 3 Must-Try Concepts of Buddhist Psychology you can start implementing today!
1. Get Present.
Take a deep breath. Are you ready? Here we go…
Your entire life exists in this moment. In this breath. In these surroundings. It is right here in front of you and it is all you have right now.
No matter what your mind is telling you – what is on your agenda for the remainder of the day, when your next meal will be, what outfit you’d like to buy, or who is doing what on social media
– it is simply your brain attaching to things outside of this moment.
And it’s time to reign it back in.
In order to be present in your life, it is necessary to get out of your head and tune into your body. There are a few ways to do this such as:
– sitting in stillness
– meditating
– listening to silence
– scanning the body
Scanning the body can be a particularly helpful tool when getting present. Gordon recommends taking a few moments to quietly move throughout your body, noticing how you feel.
Do you have feelings of anxiety? depression? sadness? guilt or shame? excitement? contentment?
Whichever it is, congratulations for acknowledging these feelings. You are present and living in this moment. It may not feel comfortable, but it’s important that you sit with your feelings – feel them, cry, write or think about them. Just be with them.
2. Live From Love Not Fear.
In western society, many of us live in fear. Fear of not fitting in, not achieving or being successful enough, not being worthy, upsetting others, and of something bad happening.
Although we may rarely talk about it, it’s quite normal in our culture. And what does it create? You guessed it…stress.
To find peace within, it’s crucial to alter your way of living from fear to love.
Living from fear is based in your mind and Ego. It seeks control and can stop you from leading the life you desire.
On the other hand, living from love is based in your heart. It includes faith in goodness and light, inclusive of peace within yourself and throughout your environment. This way of living encourages compassion and empathy while focusing on self-love and joy.
Think of one thing you secretly fear. How can you modify your perspective on this to go from living in fear to loving yourself and those around you?
3. Un-Become Who You’ve Become
Did you need to read that twice? Let’s break it down…
Since you were born, you have more than likely been inundated with western culture beliefs and philosophies such as:
work hard, be the best, and don’t let anyone see you down.
This perspective can create fear, stress, and an overall unhappy state of living when you realize you can’t live up to perfection or run away from your pain.
Un-becoming who you’ve become involves a shift in this paradigm. It is about realizing what you’ve always been told and then creating what you’ve always wanted.
By broadening your perspective to include simple, yet healthy tools to live realistically and peacefully, you can start to change who you are now into someone you want to be in the near future.
This shift includes understanding that you are no the voice in your head, but rather the thoughts and actions you choose. Much of this work is done through action steps that can involve:
– breath work
– daily reminders/perspectives for the day
– journaling
– discussion
– walking
– yoga
– meditation
in addition to other reflective therapies.
Life in western culture is not a bad thing. Rather, it provides a wonderful opportunity to transform your stress, grief, fear, and guilt that stem from it into moments of growth and insightfulness.
Simply put, you can find greater happiness, peace, and contentment within yourself because of your pain.
Is it time you found it?
If you live in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, or the Greater Denver Metro area and would like to find peace by working through your pain, please call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation session with our Buddhist Psychotherapist, Rachel Gordon.
Let us help you stop hiding from your pain. Find your inner peace now.
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