Have you tried this healing technique that never expires?

Welcome back, I'm happy you're here.

Do you experience chronic pain?

Me, I get migraines.

For years I would pretend I didn't get them.

I ignored the pain while at work or in social settings.

Who knows what I was trying to prove.

Was succumbing to the pain a sign of weakness or was it fear of letting others down?

When I was working at the preschool, one came on that could not be ignored. I spent my lunch break curled up in the fetal position, in the “zen zone”, lightyears away from zen. The pain was unbearable. My co-teachers politely forced me to go home.

The old me would push through the pain for fear of letting others down. Ultimately the only person I was letting down was myself. I spent all day caring for children, ensuring their needs were getting met and I was modeling the exact opposite.

As I've learned over the years through trial and error, ignoring the pain only makes it worse.

My personal belief is that physical pain is often a result of something emotional going on, known or unknown. The more we ignore our emotions, the more they start to manifest as physical pain.

The severity of my migraines have gone down and I attribute it to:

• I no longer wait until the pain is unbearable before I take meds. (Yes, I was being beyond stubborn.) Did I think I was unworthy of feeling good?

• I interpret my aches and pains as my body screaming to get my attention. I am done ignoring. I slow down, get comfortable and communicate with the pain. I treat my pain the way I would treat a child with a skinned knee or a bee sting. I am curious, gentle, and loving. I listen.

• I've gotten more comfortable with my own emotions. I feel my feelings, with less repressed emotions to fester.

• I ask for help when I need it. I now see “asking for help” as a sign of strength!

• I cancel my day, hang my blackout curtain and crawl into bed, if that's what the pain needs.

Fast forward to last week, when I had COVID. I took the opportunity to slow down. I didn't choose to get sick, but I chose how I responded to being sick. I had very little energy to work and I honored that. I allowed myself to be sick. I allowed people to take care of me (from a distance.) While part of me was feeling guilty for falling behind, the other part of me knew that it would all work out.

In the past, I responded to the pain with the energy of “suck it up!”

With self compassion, now I proceed with the energy of “What's going on, how can I help you?”

We weren't taught the importance of listening to our bodies.

We weren't taught the importance of slowing down.

We weren't taught to appreciate the present.

We weren't taught to love and honor ourselves, the way we would love our nearest and dearest.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now” - Chinese Proverb

My invitation for you:

Bring to mind the last time your body slowed you down-

due to an injury or being sick.

• How did you react to this slow down? Did you welcome it or fight it?

• How would your favorite caregiver (from childhood) comfort you at this time?

• How did you comfort yourself?

• What's something positive that came from said slow down?

“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Louise Hay

YOLO- You Only Live Once.

Now is the time to make your mental, physical and emotional health a priority.

Your future self will thank you.

Do you have questions about intuitive readings, coaching, what Joey is short for, what my favorite color is or anything else? 

You can schedule a curiosity here.

Let's get curious together. 

I'd love to learn something about you.

Thanks for reading! I look forward to seeing you next time.

With so much gratitude,

Making time to meditate, after a very challenging morning.