It has been a while since I sat in reflection with my body to ask what it truly requires.
Last night, during a conversation, I was gently guided to take a journey with my physical pain.
So I did.
This morning, after my yoga session, I sat down and went on a tour — inward — to meet my physical pain. I gave it a form and a shape. I made it sit down in front of me and asked:
What brings you here?
What will it take for you to leave me?
It responded, softly yet firmly:
“Your acceptance. Your love.”
The Dialogue Begins
ME: How can I love you? You are hurting me.
PAIN: I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to remind you. I am hurting, and I have been asking for your attention for so long.
ME: Unhh…
PAIN: Yes. You’ve been ignoring me and pushing your limits. And now, it has reached a point where it’s unbearable for you. I am your creation. Neglecting me or asking me to leave is not how I will be released.
ME: Then what do I do?
PAIN: Love me. Don’t try to fix me. Don’t try to fix yourself.
That line landed deeply. Love me.
No fixing. No healing techniques. Just presence. Just love.
The Mirror Turned Inward
ME: Okay. Understood. This is something I keep telling my clients and students…
PAIN: Yes! Now walk the path. You’ve taken pride in being mentally, emotionally, and physically strong. And you’ve done beautiful work—you’ve been gentle and compassionate with your thoughts and emotions. You’ve learned to accept them. But you haven’t done that with your physical body.
ME: What do you mean?
PAIN: Your expectations of your body are causing you discomfort. You’re still pushing it beyond what it can offer at this point in your life.
ME: But I’m not doing much physically these days. I feel lazy. I’ve always been like that—I’ve never really kept up physically…
PAIN: There you go. You’re judging yourself. Is your intention not to do the work?
ME: No. I intend to. I just… I’m not able to.
PAIN: Exactly. Pushing yourself when you’re already in pain isn’t the right approach—and you know that. What you need is a break. Give it a rest. Go to a place where you can relax, without the pressure to take physical action.
Integrating the Message
ME: Okay… but I’m still not feeling it fully.
PAIN: Stay with it. Ask yourself: what’s the purpose of this whole conversation?
ME: I get it. I understand it intellectually. But maybe… maybe I’m not ready to fully love and accept you yet?
PAIN: Yes. And isn’t that so human? To neglect, ignore, and un-love our pain points? But don’t you always say—love all parts of you? Walk the talk, my dear. I love you. And all I need from you is love, so we can both be easy, gentle, and calm.
A New Agreement
ME: Yes. I hear you. I will take little steps to get there. It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. But I’m learning. I’m learning to speak with compassion and gentleness… to my body, and to you.
Final Reflections
This experience wasn’t just a conversation — it was a reunion. A remembering.
My body has always been here, carrying me through every stage of life. And yet, so often, I’ve bypassed its voice in the name of strength, discipline, and “doing more.”
Pain came today not as an enemy, but as a messenger.
Not to be pushed away, but to be welcomed in.
Not to be “healed” but to be heard.
And maybe that’s what healing really is —
not fixing ourselves, but finally loving the parts we’ve kept outside the circle of our care.ith compassion and gentleness.
This is such an eye opener swati, so beautifully written. I am inspired to see, listen and love my pain
This is the first time I see hope in accepting and understanding the pain I am going through. And been ignoring it in the name of a strong new mom. It’s so beautifully written Swati.
So true and so well put , very thought provoking and will put it in action
This was such a beautiful yet simple exercise. It was so easy and natural to talk to my pains. They were all so helpful and communicative. I didn’t need to try hard. The conversation was so free flowing. Thankyou so much for showing me this path.