Ask yourself a tough question: Is dwelling on what other people have “done to me” a way of avoiding taking responsibility for my own life? If there is an upside to holding a grudge, it’s that you can place all of the blame for what’s not going well in your life on others, and not […]
Having trouble staying on track with your self-care regimen? Find someone to “answer to” in some way, to check in with periodically on your progress, or lack of progress. This might be a friend, a family member, a healthcare professional. Someone who can listen without judging you or telling you what to do. Who can […]
Are you doing your homework? Explore the websites of associations that are focused on your condition, like the American Diabetes Association or the American Lung Association, to learn about recommended treatments and testing. Check out consumer sites of trusted authorities like the Mayo Clinic. Where possible, talk to other patients with your condition.
Focus your energy on what needs to be in place to take the best care of yourself. Taking care of your health is priority number one – medication, diet, rest, and anything else you need to do to manage your condition. So if you’re looking for a starting place, this is one aspect of your […]
People out there in the world are doing the best they can and, unfortunately, that isn’t always so great. But we are all imperfect beings, and we don’t always treat each other very well. Having high expectations for how others should behave can be a setup for a letdown. Are you imposing your own impossible […]
Feeling like you are in a constant battle? With your condition? Your self-care routine? Your own inner critic? Know when to retreat. Rest when you need to rest. Cut back on activities when your body isn’t up to the challenge. Set priorities. Decide what needs to get done – starting with your self-care – and […]
“Living with” means co-existing with your condition, living life on life’s terms. Taking a more balanced – and peaceful – approach to the struggle. Instead of baring your teeth and putting your fists up, swinging wildly in every direction, calmly face your opponent and coordinate your movements with his, as if you were looking at […]
Chronic conditions are like an unwanted houseguest who has taken up residence on your living room couch, who makes demands, interferes with routines, complicates your relationships, costs you money, does scary things at times… and won’t move out. You’ve tried everything, you’ve tried to ignore him, you’ve had arguments, you’ve threatened, you’ve begged and pleaded. […]
Anybody in your life that you haven’t forgiven? Let’s take a look at what carrying around that grudge can do to you. For one, holding grudges can lead to stress. Think of the negativity churning around inside of you as you remind yourself, over and over, of what that other person did, or didn’t do. […]
It’s easy to get caught up in the limitations and negativity of other people. When they’re complaining about how hard their lives are, they’re also reminding you of how hard yours is. It can feel good to complain and commiserate. Temporarily. But be careful about letting your vent session turn into a prediction of eternal […]