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 […]
Living with a chronic condition brings challenges into your life, a whole lot of them on some days. As a result, your vision for the future may not look quite the way you thought it would before your diagnosis. Think about your vision as a work in progress, based on positive intentions for what you […]
Enough with the “should-ing.” Every time the word “should” creeps into your self-talk, ask yourself: “Who says?” Asking this question is a way to assess when the need to be perfect – and to live up to unrealistic expectations for yourself and others – is interfering with your well-being. In other words, call yourself out […]
People who are living with chronic conditions often talk about how their diagnosis has helped them to recognize their own resilience. They have tapped into sources of strength, and learned to be resourceful, in ways they never thought possible. Yet, at the same time, one of those curveballs, or a series of curveballs, can leave […]