Being certified in mindfulness from both the University of Toronto and the University of Leiden I might venture to say I have both a North American and European perspective of mindfulness. Being frank there are some flaky elements to mindfulness but some concepts should (or could) be applied to your hernia adventure.
There is more than your pain to focus on and excessive focus on that may lead to an unhealthy obsession.
Express some self compassion. You have been through diagnosis and surgery and despite some commentary noting the “minor nature” of hernia surgery you prepped in perhaps less than a modest nature, are anesthetized in several possible ways some of which are highly stressful and then are left in pain. BUT YOU MADE IT! Congratulate yourself. If you are suffering it is therapeutic to show yourself some compassion which is a notch over sympathy. Yes you may be in pain and suffering but lamenting your “sorrowful state” may do little more than augment your suffering. Take some pride in yourself and understand there is nothing ashamed to feel pain and discomfort. Give yourself a break.
Mindfulness has an in the moment focus and if you meditate, you’ll understand that. You think this type of meditation comes easy? Think again. It took me months to learn the technique. Being in the present moment is an art and for all its faults and hyped benefits what it might accomplish for you is the ability to focus on the present and avoid rumination on the past. What matters is not so much your past suffering but what is happening to you now. The happenings of the past are over. You are in the present and recuperating from hernia surgery which may be an unpleasant road to travel but you are further along the road today at this moment than you were yesterday, tritely said think better days are ahead and jettison the past sufferings.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 