Last week as I was holding a rather difficult and uncomfortable yoga position, that voice in my head chimed in with “just count…and breathe…the pain is only temporary.” And sure enough, a few seconds later, the pain was over.
Later in the day, I realized how little my neck and shoulder were hurting. This might seem normal for some of you, but for the past 12 years I have had almost daily pain in my upper right should and neck. I’ve seen several doctors. Had MRI’s. Nobody knows why. It ebbs and flows but it is simply something I have learned to live with.
One of the few things that have helped this pain is when I consistently practice ashtanga yoga. When I do it regularly, the pain nearly disappears. When I let myself go and let the practice lapse for a week or two, it comes roaring right back again (in fact, it’s paining me a bit as I type this…yes, even in Mexico I’m subject to Holiday Malaise.)
The temporary pain of the yoga allows me to live much more pain free in the rest of my daily life. Either way, I’m going to have some pain, and that’s the same for all of us.
We can experience the pain of eating healthy, resisting alcohol, and exercising. Alternatively, we can experience the pain of chronic health problems, diabetes, and an early visit to the grave. Both options are painful, but the option of living without pain is simply unavoidable. Often choosing some temporary pain will eliminate or temper a much more chronic pain.
I touched on this concept in the recent Lions of Liberty: Episode Zero, which marks a semi-relaunch of sorts of my particular show on the Lions of Liberty Podcast Network. In 2022 we are launching the formerly singular feed into both a Network feed and three distinct separate feeds for our other programs, Electric Libertyland and Finding Freedom. I am using this opportunity to softly relaunch Lions of Liberty with Marc Clair, and this episode serves as a primer for where I plan to take the show in 2022.
One subject I touch upon in this rant of an episode is the concept I discussed above, but more so related to the current situation with vaccine mandates and the encroaching technocratic state. For many, the fear of pain from disobeying a mandate was too much to bear. They chose to avoid the pain of non compliance, but they won’t get to avoid the pain. They will be further enslaved and dependent upon the technocratic system being put in place. The pain may be released for a few months, but when the next booster comes around, the pain will come rearing its’ ugly head even more ferociously.
Check out the full episode below, and please do subscribe to my new solo Lions of Liberty with Marc Clair feed!
Check out the full episode!
Check out all of my projects below!
Lions of Liberty, where I facilitate conversations with the hopes of inspiring others to achieve more liberty in their lives.
Second Print Comics podcast, where myself and Remso Martinez take a weekly look at the comic book characters, storylines and events that shaped our fandom.
Thinking about starting a podcast? Already have one? Book a podcast consulting call with yours truly to get yourself on the right track, and learn to grow your show without wasting precious time. Or just drop me an email to learn more!
The Expat Money Show - This isn’t my project, but I’m thrilled that I’ve gotten to work directly with my friend Mikkel Thorup to help grow this show over the past few months. I believe greatly in what Mikkel is doing - helping others to achieve greater liberty in their lives by exploring opportunities to live and invest abroad - and helping grow this program has been a true joy. I also get to help moderate The Expat Money Forum on Facebook - check it out!