How Blood Donation Teach Me about Managing My Thoughts

I am a regular blood donner, but I dread the needle. I get very tense just before the nurse sticks the needle into me. I have been a blood donner for more than 20 years, and I still have not gotten the fear of the needle. Lately, someone asked why I still choose to donate blood despite my fear of needle. I explained that one bag of blood can help around 3 people. Therefore, it is a good trade off. As I try to explain further on the benefits of blood donation, she raised her hand signal me to stop. She told me to explore my mind and my thoughts as I go through blood donation. As the needle pierce through my skin, it is painful. That's my feeling. I understand the benefits of donating. Those are my thoughts. I tolerate short pain and complete the blood donation journey. That's my action. My feelings, my thoughts and my actions are interrelated and also independent. We all feel pain, but we choose our respond to it. I did not run away from the injection because I understand the long-term…