James Wedmore
In this episode, James and Phoebe discuss the power of the mind-body connection, and explore how our emotions truly can manifest themselves in physical ways.
James recently experienced what he considers his greatest miracle, when he was able to cure a severe back pain that occurred while he was on his honeymoon. He says that nothing has given him more tangible proof of the effect you can have on your own body.
In Steven Ozanich’s book, “The Great Pain Deception”, he talks about “TMS”, or the “Mind Body Syndrome”, which can show up in many ways but often as lower back pain in men.
His healing work is based on the studies of John E. Sarno, MD, and he doesn’t say that pain is imagined or doesn’t exist, but it’s just that we may have diagnosed the source or the cause of it. A person often goes to a doctor, who reinforces the belief of where the pain originates. However, is the source of the pain that structural damage, or is it something else? His book proposes that the source of the physical pain is simply repressed emotional pain, and to link it to the emotional state is the opportunity for you to heal yourself.
Ozanich also talks about the Freudian concept of the id, superego and the ego. He likens the id to the “kid” or selfish child within yourself, as well as the part that has primitive urges and desires. The superego is the part of you that is a perfectionist, and wants to conform to society. It is referred to as the “false self” and seen as the “respectable parent”, or the antithesis to the id. Naturally, when put together, there is conflict. The ego becomes the “referee” in a sense, or a buffer to balance out the id and superego. This is the face that the individual shows to the world.
Based on these concepts, the sources of TMS, or chronic pain, is this conflict within ourselves, when the ego pushes the id’s needs and desires into the background.
Perfectionists tend to suffer, such as in the case with personal brands, as they want everything they put out to be better than everyone else’s.
Even something that happens years ago can stay repressed and hidden for our entire life, and the ego will place the pain for you in your body. The thought is if you won’t feel this pain emotionally, then it will manifest in the physical form.
For James, this is all about creating or fostering that deeper level of awareness for what’s going on in your body, as well as what’s happening emotionally. When he experiences a pain now, he takes a step back and reviews his past week to see if he’s stressed or not dealing with something.
The Chakras are various points that are connected to our internal and external organs. If there is a blockage of energy at any of these points, it tends to get manifested physically.
Ozanich’s book has examples of pain appearing to stop someone from doing something that they didn’t want to do, acting as a sort of protection mechanism.
If you’re rejecting this information, this is simply the ego and what is really needed is a discipline of mindfulness in your life!