I've been feeling out of sorts a lot lately. For lots of reasons. The economy has tanked and I worry about going down with it. My income has fallen. People I count on are too busy to do what's needed. Global warming seems too big for my small efforts to matter. These are rough times globally and at home.



What most got my attention recently though was the pain in my low back. It hurt to stand. It hurt to sit. It hurt when I tried to sleep. On top of everything else getting me down, now this!

I did all the usual things for relief ? stretches, ice, anti-inflammatory, chiropractic care, rest. Little seemed to be helping, and the needle on my discouragement meter slipped further and further into the red zone. I wondered, how can I hold up?

In talking with a friend about the state of my mind and my health, I heard myself saying, ?I don't feel supported.? I stopped when those words came out of my mouth. That's it, I thought. I don't feel supported. That's what the back pain is about ? the lack of support I'm feeling in my life. I heaved a great sigh. Whenever the truth is told, clarify comes and I breathe more deeply.

No wonder my back was hurting. I had not injured it in a physical way. But, as usual, my body was actively revealing something important to me by exhibiting pain. It was reflecting my state of mind ? not feeling supported. No wonder I could hardly move without discomfort. That's how I'd been feeling about what was happening all around me, that there was no way to move without discomfort. I was feeling constricted, uptight. My back muscles got the message and tightened up.

I hung out in that not-supported state of mind (and body) for another day or so, worried that I might never find relief. But soon I told another friend that if I could just reconnect with a core belief I hold that God and the universe always support me, no matter what is going on around me, I'd feel a lot better mentally and physically. Once again, what I heard coming out of my mouth caught my attention. I said to my friend, ?That sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?? She said, ?Yes, it does.? I thought to myself, then why not just go ahead and believe that.

So "I am supported" became my new declaration. I spoke these words in simple, believable situations at first. During my shower, I said, ?I am supported by the people who pipe clean water into my home.? ?I am supported by the people and companies that weave fibers into cloth to make my towels, pants, and sweater.? Gratitude gradually seeped into my disposition and I began adding words of appreciation to each declaration of support. "I am supported by the people who pick up my garbage. Thank you, God." "I am supported by good friends and by colleagues who give me backup. I am so grateful.? From there I started to notice the support around me everywhere ? the mail being delivered, the warmth of the sunshine, the road to drive my car on. I feel gratitude for the volunteers who help me with a project I'm working on and for the Internet that connects me with people and ideas I need. Soon I was feeling an explosion of gratitude, and definitely a feeling of being supported.

The next day my back was better, much better.

Have you noticed how you're being supported? Look around.