During a recent gym session at Planet Fitness, which my husband and I frequent, I accidentally pulled a muscle in my lower back. The pain was so intense that I had to stop my workout while my husband continued his routine. I attempted to stretch to alleviate the pain but should have rested and waited for my husband to finish instead. However, I tend to attack problems from all angles, so I tried various techniques such as using ice pads, drinking green tea, taking hot showers and baths, and even seeking help from my Vipassana Meditation teacher. I reached out to my teacher and described the pain I was experiencing. He advised me to reframe the situation as an opportunity to let go of any negative emotions I may be holding onto.
Soon after, a friend of mine who is a painter offered to create a painting for me, but the price she quoted was out of my budget. I thanked her and let go of the idea of owning the picture. However, she later sent me a poem inspired by the same painting. My initial reaction was anger and frustration, but I shared my feelings with my friend, who explained that she thought I would appreciate the inspiration for her poem. I could reframe the situation and calm my mind, which also helped alleviate some of the pain I was experiencing.