: The Pain Alchemist
Internally External
I see internal imageries, perception, beliefs, thoughts, considerations as filtering mechanisms to understand the world, reality, truth. Whether you believe there’s only one truth in the world, one god, the sun rises from the west, aliens are relatives to humans, she loves me, I am a loser, my favorite color is blue, he’s a cheater, retirement at 65, I need to save up that 20k for my trip. You are right! These perceptions, beliefs, thoughts and considerations are true… to you. Just like photography, taking a photo of a beautiful velvet rose, you could choose to zoom in, zoom out, turn the setting black and white, no matter what setting you choose, the velvet rose images are partial dimensions of the real deal. It doesn’t replace the smell, touch and your feeling, appreciation of the velvet rose.
July-17 2025
By Cody Zhang
Micro habits, Macro life
I hate traffic jams. They’re a relentless, soul-sucking vortex. One day I was sitting in traffic, feeling frustrated, and decided to Google why traffic jams happen. Often, no obvious accident. No visible construction. Just… gridlock. My clinician hat went on. What causes this systemic collapse on our roads?
I dove down the rabbit hole. Aerodynamics, volume, infrastructure all sounded far-fetched to me. But one element has drawn attention: human behaviour. Distracted. Aggressive. Rubbernecking. Essentially, unfocused.
And then, the mirror. I’m one of them. Listening to podcasts, talking, eating, planning my next move. Even writing this blog, I’ve caught myself drifting many times.
Here’s the radical truth, the overlooked micro concept: If every single driver did one thing focused purely on driving for 5 minutes during peak hours traffic jams would vanish. Not just ease, but vanish.
This isn’t about earning a trophy. This is about Pain Alchemy Thinking. That frustrating gridlock, that seemingly external irritation, is a symptom. It’s an amalgamation of scattered attention. The same systemic collapse we see in “mystical chronic pain” that “just happened.”
Consider: Joint articulation daily, in major joints such as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and four limbs, for forever young. Chewing food mindfully, not just swallowing, could be an insurance against Type 2 diabetes in 10 years. Consistent, humble investment of $200 a month at 7% from 16 to 65? A million. Freedom. Peace.
July-9 2025
By Cody Zhang
Inconsistency : The Hollow Man's Religion
You know that hollowness—the one that:
Chooses productivity over peace
Craves doing over being
Reaches for alcohol when water would heal
Chases relief but avoids discernment
Hoards endless tasks to avoid one critical habit
Inconsistency has been my most brutal teacher:
It convinced me to believe the following
Unrealistic expectations are success
Convincing manufactured, fat, juicy lies
You are invisible, weak, incapable
Here’s what it doesn’t want you to know: That hollowness? It’s not emptiness. It’s your body’s spasm to an unmet life. Like a muscle tearing from a cast it outgrew.
You see the chaos. You hear the excuses. You taste the bitterness of half-lived days.
Yet none of this is yours.
The hollow doesn’t need filling—it needs igniting.
Your next choice isn’t about consistency. It’s about sovereignty.
July-5 2025
By Cody Zhang
The Lie of Healing Now
“Why won’t this pain just go away? “It’s a question I’ve heard in countless forms across my 12,784 cases of chronic pain – whether the root is physical injury, deep psychological wounds, hormonal imbalances, or the mysterious language of psychosomatic symptoms. No one has ever come to me saying, ‘I’ve healed too much.’ In fact, the constant refrain is the opposite: a desperate longing for more progress, for the healing they feel has stalled.
“I once saw a small boy at the park, struggling with the monkey bars. His friends, a little older and taller, effortlessly sailed across. He, the shortest and youngest, but the most ambitious and has the desire to join them. He reached, he leaped, failing to grasp the bars. He cried, like a big boy, but quickly dried as he tried again, and again, only to fall back to the ground. We all know in a few months, he will grow taller and stronger, eventually, he’d be able to jump onto the monkey bars.”
At some stages in life, you can do as much as you could do, have all the motivation and intention, but something is just not ready yet.
And healing? It’s no different. You’ve given your all: therapy, rest, lifestyle shifts, and dedicated exercise. Yet, if healing hasn’t quite arrived, it’s human to feel genuine despair. Here’s the truth: healing is about honoring the profound, often unseen, physiological processes underway—the meticulous tissue repair, the subtle rebalancing of hormones, the deep recalibration of patterns. It’s like that kid at the monkey bars. You know he’ll eventually reach them with ease; he just can’t see that future from his current struggles.
July-2 2025
By Cody Zhang
Transforming Pain into Power
Recent Posts
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The Unexpected Connection Between Pain and Relationships
Unresolved relational issues can manifest as chronic pain, highlighting the profound connection between our emotional
Meet Cody Zhang
Popular Categories
- Pain Management
- Chinese Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Neuromuscular Therapy
- Neuroscience
Get in Touch
Reach out to Cody Zhang for expert advice on chronic pain and the unique Zhan philosophy. Whether you have questions, need consultation, or want to learn more about his innovative approach, Cody is here to help.
Feel free to contact him via email or phone, or visit his clinic in Vancouver for personalized treatment.