Wellbeing Invitation From: Pain

This image was part of my last photoshoot and what I hoped to capture is how wellbeing can be brought into the home if that's where the person is at. Held in place through fear, anxiety, depression, long working hours from home, or in my most recent holding, pain.

Pain, burnout, or illness brings a time of contemplation, often tinged with frustration, tears, and breakthroughs! My natural instincts would be to bypass the story and not burden you as I know life is full but equally when something resonates it's helpful not to feel alone. If all you want is the invitation to be well, out of pain then scroll down to the appropriate sub heading to support you where you're at.

The scenario I'd had a sudden switch in my daily life when my daughter's knee fracture flared up, resulting in the use of a wheelchair, crutches, and bathing/toileting her downstairs. & weeks in I was putting the wheelchair in the back of the car which I did at an awkward angle. A few hours later a twinge as though my back and legs would give way, and then boom 3 hours after that twinge I was mostly bed ridden, in extreme pain, nerve discomfort, and spasms which I nursed the best way I knew how but had to seek extra help from my GP resulting in Opioids for the first time ever in 48 years!

The contemplation I wondered why now, I need to look after my daughter, I haven't got time for this, really another setback, but, then I caught myself early in the victim mindset and know from past experiences that there is great learning in such a pause. Especially when it's sudden and out of the blue. I reflected on what I had done to prepare for this unexpected change and thankfully I had been self-caring with walks by the sea, taking the time to gift myself applications of nourishing skincare, lighting candles to set the vibe, daily collagen with herbs that my body needs alongside Magnesium.

A tinge of frustration followed by tears as I realise the impact of my pain on my family and my work as I have to ask for help only pairing back requests to things I really needed, highlighting my gratitude for a warm cup of herbal tea and how it made me feel so much better. I thought about it being one of my busier weeks in work with school wellbeing programmes and clubs to deliver and how this impacts children's regulation, support for families, and teachers plus, I had a massage clinic at the end of it. All of it gone and on standby to be rescheduled which any freelance person knows - it's a vulnerable time! My tears fell after holding in my pain and overwhelm at having to ask for help. There were a couple of times when I nearly fainted and both times my throat muscles tightened (airway was clear) and crying helped me to come round too!

Breakthroughs and wellbeing invitations are there in amongst the experience of pain IF we are open to receive them especially when, we switch from a victim to a growth mindset. Being in pain can make you feel numb and dissociated so, to connect through your senses is powerful to shift back to connectedness. 

• Your environment is key - you may have to ask your family to 'tidy' up the view you have, open a window to hear the world, bring to your nose an essential oil (Lantana & Kaffir Lime came to my nose first) to connect to nature, and light a candle for meditative focus. 

• What you have to hand - books was the first thing I wanted access to and the irony is that the one book on my bedside waitlist was The Forever Strong Playbook by Dr Gabrielle Lyon This pause has enabled me to stop and read it! Michael Pollan has kept me laughing at the blatancy of straightforward recommendations for Food Rules - inspired by his quote that summarises his findings 'Eat food, mostly plants, but, not too much!' a super mini publication by Penguin Random House 

• Be useful - as helplessness can feel upsetting and trigger low mood. My daughter has sat with me to complete a presentation on Canva. Help your daughter apply for an internship. Guide your son vocally to ensure he has everything he needs for a sporty day. Deeply listen to what's going for your family outside of your pain.

• Remember what you did recently - I held a heart warming breakfast club in the Forest School helping 5 children make it into school regulated. I held two wellbeing sessions within Electric Square wellbeing week focusing on their environment by creating a signature office scent and then create two wellbeing products (space spray and inhaler sticks) for their own tailored wellbeing. Plus, I was there to greet my daughter after her 2nd of 3 Maths exams! My awareness of these helped me to realise that I was there for those important things rather than for the stuff I had to reschedule.

• Celebrate the small wins like having a shower! I love water it's my self-care essential in all ways from sea, to pool, to bathing. It was made possible as my daughter had a bath bench to help her with her reduced mobility, as well as a supporting partner, and Tropic Skincare Hydrating Cleanser making skincare simple and oil free as I normally use Aromatherapy for everything but may have given me oily hands which would have made manoeuvring difficult!

• Tap into your passions like this creative tool of writing is one to me.

May you be open to receiving a self-care invitation to BE WELL today.