Belief…

“I don’t believe in pain management anymore,” says Dr. Moskowitz. “I believe in trying to cure persistent pain.” Dr. M. is one of the leading pain doc’s in the world and his practice is, as he describes, “the end of the line…where people come to die with their pain.”

Can you imagine being stuck in some real, chronic 10/10 level pain and having a doc tell you he’s all out of opioids, in fact, he doesn’t believe in them. Instead, Dr. M. tells you to start visualizing, relentlessly that the part of your brain responsible for pain signaling is shrinking. He tells you the pain won’t subside for weeks, maybe months, but it will subside if you unwind the pain neurons that are stuck in a chronic cycle. Of course, he’s gonna give you more details but that’s the melody line. Dr. M. tells his dying patients riddled with extreme, chronic pain that they’ve got to change their mind to change their bodies relationship to pain and heal themselves. He tells them it will be the hardest mental work they’ve ever done. Most give up the mental gymnastics around week two. The few, however, like Jan Sandin who stick their mind toward a relentless focus against their stubborn pain, change their mind and their body. Don’t believe me, friend. Believe in science. Believe in the good doctor.

What do you believe about your chronic, relational pain, friend? Do you believe that jackass of a partner is your lifelong pain? Do you believe your brother will always be a broken bro who just doesn’t get it? Do you believe your book of business is a broken ball and chain you’re just cursed to carry? Do you believe your pain, whatever kind it is, is out of your control and requires someone or something to soothe?

I believe most chronic pain is repaired with more acute pain. I’ve seen this in me and,every time I turn around, I see more scientific evidence to deepen said belief. The problem is we’ve bought the lie of the quick fix. We want the OxyContin or some such kinda pill prescribed. We want to believe there are simple solutions to complex problems.

Today, a new client starts his journey toward becoming whole. Distinct and deeply connected doesn’t happen quickly. Becoming ONE is the biggest pipe dream but it’s a great visual and worthy aim – if you’ve got the mental discipline to not lose hope along the way. My new client is giddy with anticipation. He has no idea how hard it’s gonna be. Today, he’ll have his first dose. Someday, the truth is gonna set him free. Someday. Yesterday, I reminded a long term client he’s getting lazy. He received his thousand something dose. I hit him with the truth. He had no good argument. He took his medicine, so to speak, and agreed to the hard work he self prescribed. Real. Hard. Work.

Do you see why your beliefs matter? Do you see why the beliefs of your builders, physicians, pastors, politicians, producers, presidents, and people you choose to place around you matter? Good…