# Doctor, there's something right with me — I'm sick

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-something-right-with-me-sick
- Themes: humour, illness, attitude, health
- Life situations: feeling ashamed of illness, health anxiety

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Instead of 'there's something wrong with me, doctor', say there's something right with me — I'm sick again. Sickness is the body responding; cultural shame makes it worse. He jokes that he is healthy because he does not even try to be healthy.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

Doctor, there's something right with me. I'm sick again. There's nothing wrong with being sick. Why do people add this this cultural shame on being sick? Why do you think you've made some big mistake? You're sick again. And you should try so hard next time not to be sick. If you try to be healthy, that makes you sick. One of the reasons I'm healthy because I don't even try to be healthy

## Teaching point

Drop the shame around being sick; fighting health can make you sicker.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Instead of telling the doctor something's wrong with you, Ajahn Brahm suggests saying something's right: I'm sick again; that's how bodies respond. Why add shame and fear to illness? Keep looking after yourself sensibly. Just drop the idea that being sick means you've failed. It's part of life.

## Source

- [The Dangers of Complaining | Ajahn Brahm | 1 March 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYLHU0eddYA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:08 to 2:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYLHU0eddYA&t=128s