Our nervous system constantly generates expectations about what we see and what we feel, including pain. When predictions are weighted toward protection, pain can persist even without ongoing injury. This reflection explores how conditioned responses shape perception, why the brain sometimes overrides present evidence, and how new experiences can help update learned patterns. By understanding how predictions influence both perception and recovery, we can approach pain and change with greater clarity, curiosity, and compassion.

When recovering from chronic pain, we often come to the mistaken conclusion that in order to heal we need to avoid all stress and access absolute safety. This post explores the mind-body connection, shifting our perspective on stress an safety, and practical invitations to inhabit our full liveliness and heal.

If you've ever felt like you're "not good at healing," you're not alone. In this entry, I share a story from my mom that offers a tender metaphor for navigating the inevitable "potholes" of our healing journey. With humor, compassion, and curiosity, this piece invites a more forgiving and sustainable relationship with self-care, change, and inner growth.