Why You Should Listen To Your Body | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Why You Should Listen To Your Body

The consequences of ignoring pain are dangerous.

16
Why You Should Listen To Your Body
Free stocks

I was always proud of my high pain tolerance, the way I could get a shot without flinching, or the time I finished a gymnastics competition with two hyperextended knees. I would wear my bruises like medals and be so proud when I told people I wasn’t even sure how I got them. I have learned to ignore pain, to push through no matter the results.

It’s not that anyone has told me to ignore my pain, it's just that when I was younger, I associated pain with weakness, which isn’t the case. I was a competitive gymnast when I was younger, so getting hurt came with the sport, but I never really took care of my body the way I should’ve. I would pop ibuprofen as if it were candy. At one point, my teachers would regulate how much we would take in a day while we were on school trips. Of course, we would just sneak it and take it when they weren’t looking. I had the routine of taking two in the morning to prepare myself for the day and three before I left for gymnastics. I learned to ignore my pain instead of listening to it.

One year on a backpacking trip, I was so focused on ignoring the pain and pushing through that I didn’t realize I had two quarter sized blisters on the backs of my ankles. Luckily the trip had been cut short due to the weather. When I got home, I could barley walk, and I have no clue what I would have done if we had to keep going for three more days.

The thing about pain is it’s the way your body tells your brain that something is wrong. We listen to autocorrect when it underlines a word for us, so why don’t we listen to one of the most basic human features? As I have grown older, I've learned to listen to my body carefully, because it will let you know if something is wrong. I wish I had done this when I was younger because I probably could’ve avoided a knee surgery and a couple of months in a walking boot.

Pushing yourself is fine, but you need to learn when to stop, when enough is enough. I have learned to listen to my body when I am in pain instead of muting it with drugs. When something doesn’t feel right, I wait and listen, and if it get worse or doesn’t get better after a few days, I try to find out what's wrong.

Think of pain as a fire alarm for your body; it might be a false alarm, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure everything is OK. And don’t get me wrong: I am not saying to run the doctor when you feel a hint of pain. We just need to learn how to listen to it instead of ignoring it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

445559
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

19071
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

42903
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

22144
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

322533
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments