I think I understand what you're saying. For example, I didn't know I had a bad back until I tried to lift a heavy monitor once and it hurt a lot. Rationally, I know that I could not have known before, and it's good that I've learned. But instinctively I still get a shudder whenever I contemplate lifting something heavy, and I think that's been preventing me from hurting my back again more than any rational thought.