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People with chronic pain manage the pain and the consequences of it daily.

Here are 12 ideas to be considered one day at a time.

You can use the Pathways To Wellbeingto increase your skills in pain management.

Day 1.

Being Intentional

Sometime in your life you will go on a journey

It will be the longest journey you have ever take.

It is the journey to find yourself.

– Katherine Sharp.

We are what we think and our thoughts do matter.

Our thinking processes influence the function of all body systems and hence our health.

Persisting pain is contributed to by abnormal processing within the pain system.
This can be positively influenced by what we do, say and think.

This knowledge reminds us to be aware of what we are thinking and to chart our direction consciously with mindful intention.

Action then follows with greater ease and clarity.

This pathways is a reminder of the benefits of being thoughtful about how you live your life.

The More Than Meditation course is an ideal way to assist you to develop your exerience of Being Intentional.

Day 2

Physical Exercise

Everything has its wonders,even darkness and silence, and

I learn, whatever state I may be in , therein to be content

Regular physical exercise is a powerful and essential tool to regulate and enhance all systems of the body including the brain irrespective of our state of health or age.

The two essential and interlinked components of exercise are movement and rest. It is possible to increase function while at the same time manage the experience of pain.
Movement and exercise have a positive impact on the abnormally function pain system which is the cause of the experience of chronic pain.
Learing to rest and exerice in a balanced way is very beneficial for thos with pain and othe health issues.

Day 3

Mind-Body Awareness

When I can get people to accept themselves as whole individuals, lovable as as they are, they become able to give from an inner strength. Bernie Siegel.

Every moment there is instantaneous, multi-directional communication between all brain and mind activity and all bodily functions and processes.
There is no separation between mind and body. What happens in the body instantaneously influences the mind. The converse also applies.
Thoughts and feelings are moment by moment registered in the body.

Be aware of the thoughts that you have each moment. This is the first step to changing the brain pain patterns.
Chronic pain is associaterd with altered brain function and structure. It is possible to re programme the brain with mind body techniques.

You are invited to learn to do this in the More Than Meditation course

Day 4

Flexible Body, Flexible Mind

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it. Helen Keller

The age of our body is often different from our chronological age. Some of us look and feel older than our age and some of us younger.
Chronic pain can lead to premature aging. A flexible body and a flexible open mind reduces our biological age.

Add some movement meditation techniques include yoga, tai chi, nordic walking, Feldenkrais and qi gong to your routine.
One of the best ways to alter the pain experience is to do something enjoyable. Do one enjoyable thing today and notice the pain dropping into the background.

Day 5

Optimal Nutrition

A crust eaten in peace is better than the banquet partaken in anxiety. – Aesop.

Optimal Nutrition

Thousands of years ago Hippocrates said “let food be your medicine and medicine be your food” This is just as relevant today – except we now have many more foods from which to choose, including many with sub optimal value and some which are harmful.

Assess whether you are getting enough Vit D. Note that fast food with sugar salt and fat increases stress which increases pain. Eat alkaline foods. Eat an anti inflammatory diet and treat yourself to chocolate( small amounts) cinnomon and tumeric

Day 6

I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ships. – Louisa May Alcott.

Breath Awareness

Being aware of the immediate effect that the breath has on the functioning of the mind and the body is a powerful tool
to incorporate into our lives. Using the breath well can bring balance to the nervous system. One of the most important
things we teach in the More Than Meditation course is how to use the breath to manage pain. When in pain abdominal breathng is a good friend.

Being aware of the immediate effect that the breath has on the functioning of the mind and the body is a powerful tool to incorporate into our lives.
Breathiing withthe right ryth,m for you can bring balance to the nervous system.
One of the most important things we teach in the More Than Meditation course is how to use the breath to manage pain.
When in pain, abdominal breathng is a good friend.

Day 7

Stress release

The change of one simple behaviour can affect other behaviours and thus change things – Joan baez

Stress is part of living and the body’s systems are finely tuned to deal with stress. Too muych stress can overload the body systems and when this occurs the potential for illness increases and ageing accelerates. Understanding the nature of stress and how to release it is an important tool for living well and reducing pain. The brain is the control centre for the pain system. Stress profoundly interacts withthe pain system. Use tghe brain to calm the pain.

The change of one simple behavior can affect other behaviors and thus change things.- Joan Baez

Stress Release

Stress is a part of living and the body’s systems are finely tuned to deal with stress. Too much stress can overload body systems and when this occurs the potential for illness increases and ageing accelerates. Understanding the nature of stress and how to release it is an important tool for living well.and reducing pain. The brain is the control centre for the pain system. Stress profoundly interacts with the pain system. Use the brain to calm the pain.

Learn how in the next More Than Meditation Course commencing 1 November . www.pathways2wellbeing.com.au.

Day 8

We can never have enough of nature. – Henry David Thoreau

Environmental Awareness

The five senses of the body are constantly transmitting information from our environment to the brain and in turn the nervous and hormonal systems. We are moment by moment connected to our environment. Being environmentally aware allows us to discern the negative and positive effects of our environment.

A malfunctionng pain system which contributes to the pain experience is like a circular treatmill. To stop or to get off the treatmill it is necessary to direct the brain’s concentating power in a different direction . Spending time in natural environments and being aware of all your senses helps to reduce the power of the treadmill ( brain networks) and reduces the pain experience. When the pain experience is intense use the smell of a preferred essential oil ( for example, sandlewood ) to focus your attention. Focused attention or mindfulness loosens the brain pain connections.

We can never have enough of nature. – Henry David Thoreau

Day 9

I think the greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, having no one. I have become more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human can ever experience. -Mother Theresa

Power of The Group

Humans are community beings and having a sense of belonging is necessary for our wellbeing. When we feel connected to a group of individuals or to a community that shares and reinforces positive attributes, our health is enhanced.

The opposite effect is true – being isolated from others or living within a negative community adversely affects health and wellbeing.

Having pain and fatigue creates stresses in most relationships and people often feel isolated and alone. Educating your self and those close to you about chronic pain is worht the effort. It is also important to find and create new sources of support. We recommend you share your journey with others who have the same illnees. Our More Than Meditation course provides for many, a starting point for support and understanding. It is also necessary to avoid those around you who give off negative vibes.

Day 10

The shell must break before the bird can fly. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

Being Creative

Being creative means stimulating the mind and body. Inviting into your life new experiences or ways of thinking promotes vitality and a sense of wellbeing. Find something that excites your passion and immerse yourself in it form time to time. In doing so you will experience your body in a different way.

Day 11

Peace Of Mind

To be nobody but yourself- in a world which is doing its best, not day, to make you everybody else -means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, e.e Cummings

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People with chronic pain manage the pain and the consequences of it daily.

Over the next 12 days I will share with you some ideas that might assist you to expand your options to live well despite the pain.

You can use the

Pathways To Wellbeing to increase your skills in pain management.

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Spending some time each day with a quiet peaceful mind is the antidote to stress (and its effects on the body). The practice of meditation provides the tools for creating peace of mind and provides access to many health benefits. Meditation is exercise for the brain. Training the brain with a daily meditation practice builds positive brain networks and contributes to the reduction in activity of the brain – pain networks. The more you practice the the greater the benefit.

If you want to begin brain training and discover the benefits you are welcome to join us for the next

More Than Meditation course

commencing Nov 1.

Day 12

The Sage never tries to store things up. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance -Lou tzu

Service To Others

Being of service to others acknowledges that we all share this world and that the wellbeing of each is connected to the wellbeing of all. When you share in and experience the interconnectedness of all beings your health is enhanced. Our service serves us as well as others. For those in pain, the practice of directing your attention to dopractical things to support others brings with it welcome personal benefits.