All of us suffer from aches and pains every now and then; some mild and some more intense. Due to the fast-paced nature of the world we live in, many people choose to pop a couple of painkillers and wait for the pain to subside. Whilst this may help, we’re not getting to the root of the problem.
Science proves that the cells of our bodies store all our memories. They hold our illnesses, accidents and all the emotional highs and lows. Therefore, it’s fair to say our bodies carry an awful lot of wisdom.
The mind-body connection
Our bodies and minds are inter-related. Think back to a time when you were really excited – did you feel butterflies in your tummy? Or think of a time you were nervous – did your hands shake? When you feel angry does your heart rate increase and your skin flush red? All of these signs demonstrate just how much our bodies respond to what is going on in our minds.
Our bodies can teach us about our emotions
Different parts of our body represent different issues, which can help us understand the underlying cause of the pain. Below is a list of the some of the areas of the body and the emotional issues they relate to.
Head: Headaches - self-criticism, fear
Jaw: Pain or tension in jaw - anger, resentment
Neck: Flexibility. What are you inflexible about? Or what or who is being a ‘pain in the neck?’
Eyes: Not seeing something clearly or not wanting to see something,
Sinuses: Unexpressed tears
Ears: What you can hear or don’t want to hear
Throat: Communication, expression – what is or isn’t being expressed? Lump in throat - fear
Mouth: How you taste the world - pleasure
Teeth: Fear. Anger.
Shoulders: Burdens and responsibilities
Heart/lungs: Grief, loss, sadness
Arms/hands: Needing to (or avoiding) reaching out to others and asking for help
Stomach: Struggling to 'stomach’ or accept something or someone
Digestion: Struggling to digest or absorb what is going on
Bladder: Anxiety, holding on to ideas, not letting go.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Being ‘pissed off’ (often with the opposite sex)
Upper back: Emotional support
Mid back: Support and guilt. Carrying weight of the past. Feeling divided.
Lower back: Financial support
Liver: Anger
Kidneys: Fear. Shame, Failure
Hips: Moving forward
Legs and feet: Fear of moving forward or standing still. Past family pain
Knees: Pride/ego, stubbornness, inflexibility
Vomiting: Severe rejection of ideas, fear of the new, unable to stomach something/someone
Diarrhoea: Getting rid of unwanted matter – often without assimilating/absorbing
Constipation: Holding on to unwanted matter, holding on to the past, guilt of the past
Skin: Irritation. Boundaries
Blood: Flow of life force (blood clots block this)
Low blood sugar: Lack of sweetness in life
Colds/swollen glands: Release of built-up toxic thoughts/emotions
Spleen/pancreas: Restlessness. Anxiety.
Sides of the body
Different sides of the body can also hold different meanings:
Left side: Feminine, emotional, the past
Right side: Masculine, logical, the future
Front side: What we know, what we show to the world
Rear side: What is private or unconscious
Understanding the cause of your pain or symptoms
When you want to understand the cause of your pain, sit back comfortably, take a few deep breaths and try and still your mind. If your mind keeps wandering try to bring your focus to your breathing, or to the area of your body which is experiencing the pain. And then check the list and see what issue this pain may relate to. Allow thoughts to come to you.
For example, if you’re getting ear ache – your ears relate to what you hear or what you don’t want to hear. Initially you may not be aware of what this is. However, when you still your mind the answer may come (although sometimes it may be a few days later!) You may realise that your partner is trying to talk to you about a problem in your relationship but you keep avoiding the conversation. Or you may have issues with your boss who is always giving you negative feedback.
You may want to look at the area of the body as well as the side of the body to find out what is going on. For example, a problem with your left shoulder maybe a female person in your life becoming a burden. Or a pain in your right knee may represent a more masculine side of yourself and a stubbornness to accept this or let it go.
So next time you’re in pain, take a moment to quiet your mind and see if you can understand the message your body is trying to give you.
I am a qualified Coach and Hypnotherapist, offering coaching, hypnotherapy and my powerful 'fusion' sessions. Find out more.