The topic came up the other day about what a person has to give up when he/she is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, lupus, or other chronic illness. Do you think about that?
What have you given up? What activities you can no longer do? What items can you no longer wear? Maybe you even dwell on the person you once were, but can no longer be?
Just like the glass half empty or half full, it’s all about perspective. Yes, chronic illness guides us to shift our priorities (that’s reframing it nicely!). We have to make lifestyle changes, but we get to CHOOSE those changes.
It takes time to discover what helps us to heal. It takes even more time to accept the findings and put them into practice. Finding what works for you is moving forward through your discoveries. Here’s a mini assessment of how you may move through the phases of discovery.
Giving UP is being stuck – rocking back and forth in frustration.
Giving IN is resignation – staying just where you are, not backward, but not forward either.
Giving BACK comes from a place of acceptance. Accepting who you are, what you’ve learned, and helping others do the same.
This topic needs further development; I’d love to hear what you think. What things have you given up? What lessons have you learned from chronic illness?
was it Churchill who said, never give in, never give up?
personally, i am in favour of that, and of giving back – keeps me sane. Nice post, Sue.
(I have various spinal/joint injuries plus fibromyalgia and PVS/ME)
I will be following this conversation. I am 68 years old and suffering with “old age” aches and pains. The thing is I forget all that when I am very busy and learning new things. What is, is…but it does not need to become the focus of my whole life.
Recently I connected with high school classmates. Believe it or not I expected them to look the same because that is the way I think of myself.
Thank you.
b
I think never giving up on ourselves is key. The minute we decide “I’m at that age, it’s the slippery slope” or ‘I’m too old to learn’ we limit ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It really takes something to commit to ‘keep on going’ but you ‘get out of life what you put in’, so make the most of it. We may be in pain but it’s the way that we relate to our pain that has us feel better. Our thoughts create our reality, so if you want a happy, vibrant life, start creating that in your mind (seeing it, hearing it, smelling it and feeling it). The power of thought can work miracles, so think positive and expect miracles daily!
Julie Mann Habitfixer
Your comments are spot on! Miracles can and do happen every day. Why not today?