For a long time there has been quite a hype around tips. The checklists with which you can make you happier, slimmer or free of pain. What is the sense and nonsense of these tips? And how do you recognize good tips?
The sense and nonsense of tips
The most important lesson, when it comes to tips, is the following. Some tips will work for you, others won't. And tips that don't work for you may work for someone else.
That may be a bit of a killer, but it is the reality. Suppose I would advise anyone with chronic pain to play the piano. A number of people will no doubt feel better because of it. It distracts, your brain learns something new and creates new paths. The distraction makes you forget the pain for a moment and the pleasure that your brain creates makes the pain disappear more into the background.
Unless... you don't like playing the piano at all. Then it gives you stress, which activates your alarm system. You might get more a tense posture in front of the piano which leads to more pain. Your brain produces more and more stress hormones. You believe you have to push through and get into a negative spiral.
In short, you will have to think carefully about which tips can help you progress.
How to recognize good tips
Fortunately, you can learn to recognize good tips. This may prevent a lot of misery!
- If it seems to good to be true, it probably is. If you come across tips that promise to get rid of all your problems right away, be wary. Unfortunately, most progress is often made by investing in yourself. Short-term remedies (e.g. painkillers) often have side effects.
- Good tips give direction, but are not too precise. Although being creative and having fun is healthy for everyone, you can see in the example above that you can't advise everyone to play the piano. So good tips do give direction, though above all they encourage you to adpt the it to your own situation and life.
- Tips that work for you, fit in with what already suits you. Everything that causes tension or stress, works against your pain. So carefully examine whether you get energy and pleasure from a tip.
- Good tips can change you. Often it comes down to the fact that a number of patterns in your life will have to change in order to get better. Training your brain takes time and energy, because often it means that you have to change as well. Maybe putting things in a different perspective, adjusting your behavior or paying attention to yourself and the pain in a different way. Fast solutions often only work temporarily...
Concluding
These were my four tips to recognize good tips! And within the Reducept Method we will of course continue to give tips and advice. We give direction by linking advice to the themes of knowledge, doing, thinking, feeling and attention. When a certain direction or strategy works well for you, it makes it easier to find more exercises and tips in this direction. Good luck!