Trying not to think of a Pink Rhinoceros

One of the things that keeps coming back to me from my recent reading of A Hat Full of Sky is the part where Tiffany says that something is "like trying not to think of a pink rhinoceros". Mistress Weatherwax is able to do just that. But after pondering it Tiffany asks, or rather tells, her "I know how you kept from thinking about a pink rhinoceros, you don't know what one looks like do you?" I was thinking that pain is like that pink rhino, if I don't tell myself not to think about it, then I don't think about it at all. But as soon as I exhort myself to stop dwelling on the pain...it becomes a pink rhinoceros. Unfortunately, I not only keep thinking about that pink rhino, but about other stuff too.

Okay so I'm not really making sense am I? Its just that the day in, day out, sinus headaches, sciatica, hip joints aching, just general fibro pain, etc. sometimes take their toll. I found myself almost in tears last week (and I never lose control) just thinking how wonderful it would be for just once to not be tired and achy.