pain body Anxiety is something we all recognize. Anxiety feeling occurs when we respond to perceived threats. It is a common experience for some people. Some people only experience it occasionally.
Eckhart Tolle
It is a healthy emotion that can drive us to action. It can become destructive and out of control, affecting our quality of living. Eckhart Tolle, author and spiritual teacher, has a great way to understand anxiety and how to manage it.
He refers to the idea of the “pain body”, an emotional pain that lives inside you. This may be a result of past traumatic experiences. It is not always fully understood and accepted at the time they arise.
Understanding your pain body and learning to accept it in the moment will help you to manage anxiety better and lead a happier life.
What is a pain body?
- Eckhart Tolle’s book Power of Now explains that the pain-body refers to any emotional pain you have had that leaves behind a residue of painful memories.
- “Emotional pain is a residual of past pain. It lives on as long as you can’t access the power of now. It combines with the pain of the past and remains in your body and mind.
- This includes any pain you experienced as a child due to the unconsciousness of your world.
- Tolle even suggested that the pain body was an invisible entity by itself:
- The accumulated pain creates a negative energy field in your body that can occupy your mind and body.
- It is an invisible entity that exists in itself, so you can get very close to the truth. It is the emotional pain-body.
- Tolle suggests that the pain body can be either active or dormant.
- “A pain-body can be dormant for 90 per cent; however, in deeply unhappy people, it might be active up to 100% of the time.
- “Some people live almost exclusively through their pain-body. Others may only experience it in specific situations such as intimate relationships or situations related to past loss, abandonment, or emotional harm.
- It can be activated by anything, especially if it is connected to a past pain pattern.
- It will awaken when it is awakened from its dormant state. Even a simple thought or a harmless comment can activate it.
Is the pain body always harmful?
Tolle states that while some pain bodies can be annoying, others are relatively harmless. For example, a child who will not stop whining. Other pain bodies, however, can be destructive and vicious.
“Some people will attack those around you or near you, while others may attack you, your host.
The negative thoughts and feelings that you have about yourself and your life can then turn into self-destructive and deeply negative.
This is how many illnesses and accidents are created. Some people are driven to suicide by their pain bodies.
You are in for a shock when you think you know someone and are suddenly confronted by an alien, vicious creature for the first time.
It’s important to notice it in yourself, not in others. Any signs of unhappiness, regardless of their form, should be noticed. It could be the awakening pain-body.
manifest as irritation
This can manifest as irritation, impatience or a sombre mood. It may also include a desire to hurt someone, anger, rage, depression or a need for drama in your relationships. It is best to catch it as soon as it wakes up from its dormant condition.
The ego amplifies the pain-body.
Tolle says that the pain body is a part of the ego and lives in humans.
“Once you have been beaten by the pain body, you will want more pain. You can either be a victim or a perpetrator. You either want to cause pain or suffer from it. The difference isn’t that great.
This is something you aren’t aware of and will insist that you don’t want pain. If you look closely, however, you’ll see that your thinking and behaviours are designed to perpetuate the pain for others and yourself.
The pattern would end if you were aware of it. To want more pain is insane, and no one is conscious.
The ego can still be strong when the pain-body’s emotion amplifies the ego. You must be present to allow your pain body to arise when you need it.
Everyone’s responsibility in this life
This is everyone’s responsibility in this life. It is our job to recognize and be present for our pain body as it transitions from active to dormant.
When it is overtaking your mind, the internal dialogue we have, which can be dysfunctional at best, becomes the voice of the pain body talking to us.
It is deeply affected by the old, painful emotion that comes with the pain-body.
The old emotional pain will completely distort every interpretation, everything, and all judgments about your life and the events.
If you’re alone, your pain body will take in every negative thought and gain more energy. Your energy will be depleted if you continue to think about the same things for hours.
Eckhart Tolle explains why we feel emotions such as anxiety, stress, or anger.
- Negativity is caused by an accumulation and denial of the current. Too much past and too little present are the causes of anxiety, tension, stress, worry, and all other forms of fear.
- Too much past and not enough present can cause guilt, regret, resentment and grievances, as well as sadness and bitterness.
- Buddhism can provide many people with a spiritual outlet, but it can also break the cycle that causes anxiety, stress, and unhappiness. You can find my no-nonsense guide to Buddhism for a better lifestyle here.
How to get rid of your pain-body
- How can we stay present and catch our pain body early so that we don’t lose our energy?
- Understanding that small situations can trigger huge reactions is key. Be present when this happens.
- First, you need to make space within yourself for the pain body. Then, you must remove yourself from that space. Take the time to be present with yourself and view the situation from a distance.
- As Tolle says:
- “If you are present, the suffering body can no longer feed on your thoughts or other people’s reactions. It is possible to simply be present and observe the process. It will gradually lose its energy.
- Tolle states that the first step towards enlightenment involves being an “observer” in the mind.
- “The pain-body is the dark shadow cast from the ego and is afraid of the light of your consciousness.”
- It is afraid of being discovered. Your unconscious identification and fear of facing the pain it lives in is key to its survival.
Possible to avoid facing
- It is possible to avoid facing it. If you do not bring the light of your consciousness into it, you will have to live it again and again.
- Although the pain-body might seem like a terrifying monster you can’t bear to see, it is actually an insubstantial ghost that cannot be defeated by your presence.
- The pain body doesn’t want you to see it as it really is. Once you have observed it, felt its energy field, and focused your attention on it, you can identify it.
- It is now a higher level of consciousness. It is called presence. Now you are the observer or witness of the pain-body.
- It can’t use you by pretending to you and cannot replenish itself through your presence. You have discovered your inner strength. You are now able to access the power of Now.
- Eckhart Tolle has spoken about freedom before, stating that the beginning of freedom comes from realizing you are not the “thinker”.
- The moment you begin to observe the thinker, a higher degree of consciousness activates. Then you realize there is an infinite realm of intelligence beyond what your mind can think.
- Though the thought is only one aspect of this vast intelligence. All the true meanings of life – love, beauty, creativity, joy and inner peace – are beyond your mind. You start to awaken.
How do we become an “observer” of the mind?
Tolle demonstrated a simple exercise that allows you to observe your thoughts and let go.
Eckhart Tolle is asked by the gentleman how to find a balance between letting go and being annoyed when thoughts return.
This is a struggle that many of us face, so Eckhart’s answer is extremely helpful.
Here is a summary of his advice on what to do if your mind won’t stop thinking.
1) Avoid giving your mind too much input. This is a great test to perform when you are in conversation with others.
2) Listen to your partner and only speak 20% when you are in conversation.
Listen to your inner voice while you listen.
This can be done by being aware of how your hands feel. If you can, feel the energy in both your feet and hands.
5) Feel alive in your body while listening.
6) It helps you to be more aware of your body, and the information that you are receiving.
This is a great strategy. This strategy works because it helps you focus on the present moment.
Neuroscience explains how you can stop thinking too much
Norman Farb, a University of Toronto professor, found in 2007 that people have two types of brain networks for dealing with the outside world.
This network is used to experience your experience. This is known as “the default network”.
When there is not much happening, this network activates and you start thinking about yourself.
It is the network that helps you plan, daydream and ruminate. It is the glue that holds our world story together.
“Direct experience network” is the second network.
It is a new way to experience when the direct network is active.
This network activates so that you don’t think about the future or past, other people or yourself.
Instead, you experience information entering your senses.
This network activates when you feel the heat of the water hitting your body.
It is interesting to note that these networks are inversely related.
You are less likely to notice cuts if you’re washing dishes at the same time as a meeting. This is because your network is less active.
Your senses aren’t as sharp.
This works in both directions, fortunately.
Intentionally focusing your attention on the sensory data in front of you, such as the sensation of water on your hands, can reduce the activation of your narrative circuitry.
When you activate your direct experience network through your senses, you are reducing activity within your default network which is involved with overthinking.
Meditation breathing exercises are a great way to reduce overthinking. You can focus your attention on your breath and the sensory experience.
Eckhart Tolle’s strategy to prevent you from getting lost in your thoughts is brilliant.
Eckhart Tolle describes the pain-body in this way: Focus on your senses while you work.
“Pay attention to the sensation inside of you. It is the pain body. Accept it. It is not important to think about it. Don’t analyze or judge.
It’s not your job to create an identity. Be present and remain open to what is going on inside of you.
Be aware of your emotional pain, but also the “one who observes”, the silent watcher. This is the power and power of the Now, your conscious presence. See what happens.
Hack Spirit’s best-selling ebook on mindfulness, boom, can be found here.
Put yourself first
What is your top goal right now?
Is it worth saving up to buy the car you have been dreaming of?
Do you want to finally get started on a side hustle that will hopefully allow you to quit your 9-5 job?
The order to make the leap and ask your partner to move in.
No matter what your goals may be, there is a trap in the way you set them.
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