From time to time, we humans experience deep physical pain. Sadly, some people feel such pain quiet often – and I genuinely feel for them.
On a recent episode of painfulness in my increasing old and decrepit human body, I was acutely reminded of the mind’s limited capacity to focus on anything but the pain emanating from that ailing part of the body. The injury through which I was suffering was not immediately life-threatening, but I could not force myself to ignore the pain long enough concentrate on anything more than simple tasks.
5 minutes here. Break. Three minutes more. Break.
And so it went.
Pain holds a powerful influence over the mind’s attention.
