I received an email this morning with a question pertaining to the graduate call Feb. 25th.
Good morning Mr McIff,
I have a question concerning the conference call on Starve What You Don’t Want. Can we do the same process with a physical problem? I have a problem with my left knee and I tried to heal it but it still is very painful so I barely can walk. Do I have to find the cause of that pain or what before going any further?
Thank you for this question!
Much of the pain we experience, whether it’s physical or emotional, is really suffering. In other words the suffering tends to make the pain feel much stronger than it actually is. So as we apply this process of acknowledging the emotion associated with the pain and then observing it, we set up a space between us and it, a separation. There is now a me observing it. When I observe it, I separate from being it. It (suffering) can only survive when I am being it. Suffering cannot exist simultaneously with presence. So as we starve the suffering, the pain tends to become much more manageable.
From this more empowered position we have a greater capacity to begin feeding and identifying with what we do want. In a way it’s like reminding the cells of what it’s like to be healthy instead of continuing to feed the message that they are unhealthy. I know it sounds a bit counter-intuitive but try it out and see what happens.
Remember the simple philosophy here is to starve what you don’t want and feed what you do want. This may or may not produce an immediate miracle but at the very least it will empower you to move in the direction of your goal with greater productivity. Remember the analogy I shared of being in a boat rowing and rowing? Well if we simply lift the anchors it makes the rowing a lot more productive and doesn’t require any extra energy.
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