The Truth About Pain: Your Body’s Wake-Up Call

Mindset Mastery with Deirdre Maguire

Most people believe pain is purely physical – caused by injury, wear and tear, or genetics.
But what if pain is actually your *body’s way of expressing what your mind can’t*?
According to Dr. John Sarno and Nicole Sachs, chronic pain is often a protective distraction – a brilliant trick the brain uses to keep us from feeling uncomfortable emotions like rage, sadness, shame, or grief. This is called TMS – Tension Myoneural Syndrome.

Their message is clear:
Your pain is real – but its root is emotional, not structural.
when we give ourselves permission to feel and express our emotions safely and honestly, the pain no longer needs to “speak for us.”

Practical Examples:

For example, Michael’s migraines would spike during family conflicts. Once he acknowledged repressed anger toward his father and tapped into that story, the migraines lost their grip.

Jane had chronic back pain for years – MRI scans showed nothing. After starting expressive journaling and emotional release work, her pain significantly eased.

3-Step Mindset Tool: How to Listen to Your Pain and Let It Go

1. Acknowledge It Without Fear

Instead of fighting pain or fearing it, gently say: “I see you. I hear you. I know you’re trying to protect me.” This interrupts the fear-pain-fear cycle.

2. Feel to Heal

Give yourself a safe space to express the emotion underneath. Ask: “What is my pain trying to distract me from?” Let yourself write, speak, cry, or tap it out.

3. Rewire the Story

Shift the belief from “There’s something wrong with me” to: “My body is wise. I’m listening now.”

Use affirmations, to calm the nervous system and update the message.

Call to Action:

This week, instead of silencing your pain—get curious. Journal, tap, or simply sit with it. Ask: “What truth is this pain pointing me toward?”

💬 PS Quote to End With:

“Your symptoms are not the problem. They’re your body’s way of trying to get your attention.” – Nicole Sachs