power of perspective

I was recording a podcast episode today with Harry (you can view the full episode in Classroom), who is a public speaker focusing on healing chronic pain for people outside of the traditional biomedical model.

As part of our conversation, we touched on the power of perspective, especially in regards to pain.

Most of us will say that pain is 'negative.' Pain is something we should actively try to 'get rid of.'

When you follow this perspective, all your actions will be guided by this rule.

To 'rid' or 'avoid' pain.

If you have a headache - you take a panadol. This is a pain-avoidance perspective.

If you have a sore back - you take a panadol. Same concept.

If you have a sore heart - you might drink or distract yourself. Yet another way of avoiding pain.

When this perspective is taken to be true, for an entire life, or by an entire people...

Things can go very wrong.

For example, if it is widely accepted that drinking when you're sad, then everyone is going to keep drinking.

But what does this do?

When you drink, alcohol messes with the sleeping process in your brain. This sleep process is CRUCIAL to the processing of grief. In fact, the old tale of 'sleep it off' is actually incredibly wise.

Over time, this has a part to play in crippling mental diseases like depression and chronic anxiety.

All of this starts with perspective. It doesn't start with pain. It starts with perspective.

But how about I present a different perspective?

Let's say pain is nothing but a signal. And if you pay attention to it, pain gives you information for learning.

For example, if I stubbed my toe - and my default perspective is... 'what did this pain teach me?'

I might say,

'Oh, make sure I don't have too much clutter on the floor,'

or

'I better look where I'm going.'

Similarly, if I have my heart broken, I might say,

'What did this relationship teach me?'

'What does this pain teach me for next time?'

Both of these perspectives are to do with pain.

But they lead to very different outcomes.

If you believe pain is supposed to be avoided, you will do so - at your peril.

If you believe pain is a lesson to be learnt, you will do so - at your advantage.

Whatever season I'm going through, I always try to remember that the perspective I bring to it is the most important.

What might 'seem' bad at the time only requires a quick mindset shift before it becomes an advantage for someone else.

If you want to watch the full podcast with Harry and myself - you can view in the classroom or on the link here.