Whenever we experience discomfort in any area of our lives, we squeeze. We squeeze the muscles in that area. Sometimes it is involuntary, other times it is voluntary.
Whenever I was ill as a child, at the sight of a syringe and needle holding a drug meant to heal me, I always instinctively squeezed my bum. The recurrent advice I got from my nurses, doctors and parents was, “Do not squeeze your bum cheek, otherwise, the needle will break inside it and you will require a surgery to bring it out”. Did I listen? No. I continued to squeeze and fight everyone that was trying to hold me down. Something interesting always happened though. Immediately they were able to pin me down and get the needle in, I consciously relax the muscles of my bum. My logic was, “The needle is already in, it is best to make sure it does not break”. At all times, those injections brought me back to good health.
I have noticed the same phenomenon of squeezing whenever I am pressed to use the loo, doing any tasking physical exercise, engaged in deep thought or deep work and when I am having a difficult conversation. I squeeze whenever there is resistance.
I have found that when faced with any difficulties, finding the parts of my body that I am voluntarily/involuntarily squeezing and releasing the muscle tension there, has helped to make things better. Note: This does not work when I am pressed to go to the loo. So do not try to release muscle tension in such conditions.
Most times the tension we think we face in life, might just be a muscle group we are involuntarily squeezing. Consciously relax that muscle group. The injection you face is good for you. Relax and embrace the temporary discomfort.
– Osasu Oviawe