Journaling #1
Pain Stories
Everyday this week:
Write down any observations you had during your movement lessons.
these could be thoughts or emotions that came up. Movement that seemed easy or movement that seemed hard. How the lessons made you feel afterward or even the next day.
Write at least 3 stories you tell yourself related to your pain.
These can be any stories that come up for you when you experience pain or when you're trying to avoid experiencing pain. You're writing these down to acknowledge their existence not to give them credence.
Examples:
Stories you tell yourself (ex: I'll never get better);
Stories that you've been told (ex: the surgeon said I have "bad" knees);
Stories about family members (ex: my mom always had "bad" knees);
Stories that society has influenced (ex: women are weaker than men or women have a higher pain tolerance than men).
After you've written them, read back through them. Then write a positive affirmation next to each.
Examples:
I'm committing to my health and I'm improving everyday.
My knees are strong and I'm learning to move in new ways.
My mother's knees are not my own.
Generalizations never helped anyone.