I don’t know one person that enjoys going to the dentist. I had to go for my cleaning not too long ago. This is not an enjoyable experience for me. It is never comfortable and never lacking in some level of pain. I sit there in the chair with my mouth open while the dentist pokes and prods my teeth and gums, trying to assess whether I have been regularly brushing and flossing my teeth. He usually walks away from this experience very disappointed in me. And then the hygienist comes and continues the torture and guilt session started by the dentist and by the time it’s all over I feel worn down, beat up, and guilty at my lack of oral care and attention.
I noticed this last time that while I was sitting in the chair, and my dentist was examining me that my whole body was tense. I was tightening my hands and feet. And when I realized this I started to try and relax more. I would keep my attention on my hands and feet and not my mouth to try and stay relaxed. And it’s interesting that this made the experience better. I’m not saying that now I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort but it wasn’t as bad as it normally is. It was at that moment that I realized something:
The anticipation of pain makes the pain worse.
And what I was doing was trying to experience peace, and that made the pain lessen. I think I may have found the secret to life. Well truly, this has already been taught a long time ago but that teacher put it another way:
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34
Those are the words of Jesus. So moving forward, whether it’s gonna be going to the dentist, or dealing with an issue at work, or facing a final examination, I am going to try to not anticipate the pain that is coming. I will try not to worry, and instead live in the peace of knowing that I am in the hands of a God who is all powerful, knows the end from the beginning, and loves me unconditionally.
