Rice Business Report July 2019 Rice Business report2xxzzzasa | Page 9

Use Mindfulness to Relieve Suffering Without Painkillers
By Kevin Schoeninger
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So, you see, even the pain of a simple cut could contain vital information. If you
pay attention, pain can bring insight.
With emotional pain, this is especially true.
For example, let's say you've been a loyal client of a Kung Fu school for years.
You've made monthly payments for your son's classes via online BillPay this
whole time without fail. One day you get a text from them saying they haven't received your payment
for the past two months and they need it TODAY!
You look on your BillPay and see that indeed the checks were sent both months and already cashed!
You decide to go in and have a chat with them
When you arrive at the school, you greet the instructor, who says nothing. After the urgency of the
text you received, you expected him to bring up the issue of payment. So, you tell him about the text
you received. He replies quickly and defensively, "Well, we have to keep the doors open!"
Immediately you feel hurt, because you've been a loyal customer and paid on time for years. You've
even donated equipment and participated in all their fundraisers. You feel disrespected because there
is no acknowledgement of your loyalty.
Now, you could just go on with your day, ignoring his comment and continuing to take your son to
class. Or you could take the opportunity to look into the situation more deeply.
Maybe you could check in with him and see how things are going? You might learn about the stress he
feels and offer emotional support. You could let him know how what he said made you feel. He might
not be aware how he was coming across and this might help him with relating to his students and their
parents-which would help grow his business.
Now, these may seem like minor moments-a small cut and a few blunt words. Yet, can you see how
paying attention to your pain and going into it more deeply rather than avoiding it, even in minor situ-
ations, can lead you to insightful action?
How much more important is it to be mindful, pay closer attention, and ask deeper questions with
physical and emotional pains that are bigger and more chronic, such as persistent migraines, back
spasms, ulcers, insomnia, grudges, and self-sabotage?
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