Learning from the Pain Teacher: Embracing Mindfulness and Body Awareness for a Healthier Life

We pull up to the freshwater spring right as the rain stops. A glimmer of sun cuts through the mist as I excitedly jump out of the car to start getting water for our tiny home.

I want to get back up to our internet-less mountainside ranch after investing the day plugged in at the library to work. My body urges me to move after being confined to a chair all day for the first time in a week.

The sun is finally coming out after days of rain. And I can’t wait to go for a hike.

The water was the final task on my to-do list before I was in hiking heaven. I just need to fill up the containers. Pick up a 150-pound sloshing water bladder. Put it in our car. Drive it up the mountain. And carry it on my shoulders up to our house.

It’s something I love doing.

It makes me feel human.
It makes me feel strong.
It makes me feel grateful for the water we have.
It makes me more mindful of the water we use.

But this time, something was different.
I was in such a hurry to get back home that I forgot what was key.

Earlier that week, my intuition clearly told me that I needed to warm up before picking up the water, especially if I had been working all day sitting at the library.

Makes total sense, right?

When I do any other workout, I make sure to warm up and cool down. As I’ve gotten older, it is essential to reduce the chance of injury and increase longevity.

But on this day, as I bend down to pick up the water, I am hit with a shooting pain in my back that I know all too well.

DAMN! I reaggravated my back injury that started over a decade ago.

Back then, doctors said I needed multiple surgeries, heavy pain meds and that I may be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. It was my wake-up call to make significant changes because I KNEW that was NOT the direction I was going to take.

Getting a wake-up call from the “pain teacher.” That inner guide that helps you learn lessons from hard setbacks. Started me on a massive mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing journey. Pain is the best teacher.

Today, with 10+ years of practice, I very rarely aggravate my back injury because I have learned what to do and what not to do. And most importantly, I learned how to listen to my body’s whispers before it has to scream.

Pain is the best teacher…

Now, you may not be hauling your own water anytime soon but I bet you’ve felt the pain teacher in your own way. Whether it’s an old injury, chronic disease, or sleep deprivation. Here’s what I learned from this experience that can serve you to keep the pain teacher’s lessons to a minimum.

1. Stay in the present moment. 

Do you find yourself thinking about something in the future or the past instead of what you are actually doing?

I am sure you do. You are a human and we humans love doing it.

One of the reasons I didn’t remember to warm up was because I was so excited to be back at our home. I was in the future instead of the now. My mind was lost in endless possibilities for what was to come instead of being clear to focus on what was in front of me.

When you start getting ahead of yourself you can always return to the present moment.

Do this by noticing your breath.

You are only breathing in the present. Not in the past or future.

Put one hand on your belly. And breathe through your nose.

Anchor in the present by focusing on your breath. 

Check out this free box breathing practice MaryBeth created to take it even further.

2. Listen to your body’s whispers and take action. 

As a human, you have a lot going on in your head. Even with the best intentions, you are not going to remember everything.

So do yourself a favor and when you have a “gut feeling” or something inside of you that says, “Hey, this would be a good idea,” make a note, hold yourself accountable and take action.

When I first had my back injury, I had no idea what it meant to listen to your body. As a former college athlete, I was used to pushing my body to the limit and not worrying about the consequences. After my back injury, it was a whole new story because I would do anything not to feel the pain like an icepick in my spine.

So I learned quickly how to listen but I still need reminders. On fill-up days, that means I will put a calendar reminder to warm up beforehand. I‘ll even put a little sticky note on the bag.

What could you take action on right now that your body has been whispering to you about?

3. Check in with your values.

While you may have a core value that sticks with you all your life. You may not realize that the definition of that value can change over time. So make sure to check in with yourself on what your values mean to you at each stage in your life. And if you want a refresher on your values, check out our free core values quiz here.

The core value of health was instilled in me from a young age. However, my definition of health has changed greatly. Before, I used to think health was about doing the most reps and being the strongest. Today, it’s about increasing my mobility and moving with intention.

It’s important and empowering to realize that you get to create your own values definitions to serve you in each season of your journey to alignment.

Remember, life will be full of ups and downs.

And the pain teacher will keep showing up with lessons you need to keep learning.

Choose how to respond to yourself from a place of love. And give yourself permission to be human along the way.

When you are ready, here are three ways I can help you.

Permission to Be Human: This book is my step-by-step guide to creating a thriving business by knowing, owning, and living your core values. Check out my #1 Bestseller in Amazon’s Workplace Culture Category Here.

Knowing and Living Your Values: During my 10-day course, you’ll identify your unique values, see where you’re currently activating them, and make small tweaks where you’re not so that every day is filled with purpose. Join 7,000+ Students Here.

Alignment Coaching: Work with me 1×1 to align with your core values, reduce stress, and ignite more well-being without compromising your impact. Fill out this inquiry form to see if we’re a good fit for one another.