Handling Painbody Attacks

Eckhart Tolle, the spiritual teacher who emphasizes practices such as being Present in the Now moment teaches about an energetic ‘parasite’ within us called the painbody.

The painbody is essentially a very active ego running in full force, seemingly overtaking us with emotion, pain, and resistance. The painbody basically feeds off of ego juice like misery, sadness, anger, superiority, inferiority, and so on.

Typically the active painbody needs to run its course and play itself out before it goes back into dormant mode. This can be very frustrating when you’re right in the midst of it, similar to when you have cramps and similar chronic irritations, and it may disrupt whatever you are doing. If you’re simply in bed without much going on, it can be just a minor irritation, but when you’re out in the world giving a presentation at work, filling out forms for Aviva, or even doing something as common as driving, it can become a major issue, negatively impacting your life and the lives of others.

One of the wonderful things about painbody attacks is that they bring right to the surface many of the issues we’ve been repressing, giving us the opportunity to deal with them on the spot.

It’s certainly easier to talk about dealing with them when we’re calm and relaxed than it is in the “heat of the moment” but it’s really when all hell is breaking loose within us that the wisdom to know how to handle the emotional storms are of the most value.

Let’s take a look at some effective techniques for handling painbody attacks.

Awareness

First and foremost, it’s critical to understand that the painbody IS NOT YOU. It is simply an energetic flow, an uprising of conditioned beliefs, patterned behaviors, and particular expectations that are coming to the surface.

Instead of getting caught up in the storm and thinking that you ARE the storm, simply sit back in a state of conscious awareness and watch the storm do its thing. The mere withdrawal of identification with it will lessen its ability to affect you, right away.

Presence

Be totally and completely focused on the Now moment.

Instead of getting the mind all twisted up in thoughts, bring your awareness to this moment. Feel your body. Notice your breathing. Be aware of what’s being perceived by your five senses instead of the thoughts and memories flooding the mind.

See if you can abide on the razor’s edge of Now.

The degree of peace you feel is directly related to your level of presence.

The degree of turbulence you feel is directly related to your identification with the painbody.

Allow It

The painbody is strengthened through resistance, by you pushing against it and trying to “fix” it, lessen it, or get rid of it in any way.

There’s a time and a place for logical discussions and decision-making, but the middle of an emotional storm is not it.

From your place of present awareness, sit back and watch the painbody attack. Notice the feelings in your body and allow them to be, to fully express themselves and be released.

Allow them to be fully.

Love It

This may sound crazy at first, but allow yourself to Love the painbody attacks. They are the energetic and emotional manifestation of fear. It is energetic darkness. Darkness is not defeated by more darkness, but by bringing in the light. Bring in the light of your Presence, of your Love.

Love the painbody and recognize that it’s providing you with an opportunity for tremendous personal growth. By looking directly at the painbody and loving it all the same, you’re both accepting the painbody as well as accepting YOURSELF for being human and having emotions.

It’s COMPLETELY okay to be human, to have emotions, and to express yourself as such. Love the painbody, Love the storm, and Love yourself.

Let It Out

When the emotions are feeling turbulent, feel free to allow them to flow through you and out.

If you need to scream your lungs out into a pillow, do so. If you need to wail on a punching bag, go ahead. If you need to go for a run, grab your running shoes. If you need to cry, allow yourself to blow snot all over the room.

Whatever it is, give yourself permission to open up and allow the emotions to flow through without resistance. The more you can let them be just as they are and exhaust themselves on their own, the quicker you will experience a release from the grip of the painbody.

Release All Resistances

The more you release resistances to what you’re experiencing in the Now moment, the more you’ll experience periods of peace and stillness, both in frequency and duration.

Painbody attacks will become less and less frequent, lasting for progressively shorter periods of time.

Nevertheless, they will still happen, until they do not. In the end they’re actually a wonderful gift because they’re providing you with yet another opportunity to become aware of any insecurities and choose to transcend them altogether.

For more in depth information about the painbody and the power of presence, pick up a copy of both The Power of Now and A New Earth.