In our last post, we discussed the “bumps” that may occur while taking the natural path to optimal health. In this post, we’ll offer some suggestions to help you get through those bumps.
When one becomes ill, their entire life changes. Physical illness can bring about a whole host of other changes, both physical and psychological, that can make the healing process seem more difficult. Let’s explore some of the ways one can enjoy their natural path to optimal health.
Chronic illness is bound to affect your mood – you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. It’s natural to feel down sometimes, but you don’t want to get stuck feeling hopeless or that you will not feel better. There are many things you can do when you are feeling down to pick yourself back up and get back on the road to health. Here are a few suggestions to keep what is rightfully yours–an optimistic outlook:
HUMOR: Even when a situation seems bleak, find something to laugh about. Read a funny book or watch a silly movie; be around uplifting people and avoid chronic pessimists. LAUGH when you find your socks in the freezer, or your “missing” reading glasses on top of your head. Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series M*A*S*H said, “Joking is the only way of opening my mouth without screaming.” Find something to laugh about and try and take things a little less seriously. This is life after all; we only get one go-around (for now) so we might as well enjoy it as much as possible.
SUPPORT: Turn to friends and loved ones, telling them about your desire to be happy and request that they just listen (as opposed to giving you unwanted advice). Ask for or initiate a hug. Let others help you when you are down – we are all in this together and we must lean on each other once in a while. Ask for support if you need it and be open to give support to others when they ask. Tell others you are thankful for their support, and accept thanks from others with a sincere “You’re welcome!” and realize what a wonderful gift having someone to rely on for support really is.
CLEAN UP YOUR SELF-TALK: Are you telling yourself, “My life is a mess and the pain is unbearable?” Or, maybe you’re bummed out about not being the person you were or worrying that you are a failure in some way. Examine these irrational thoughts and reformulate them. For example, tell yourself: “My life is difficult, but I’ve managed thus far,” or “I’m just not supposed to be the person that I was.” Instead of honing in on your flaws, stay focused on your assets. We have several classes to help you clean up the way you talk to yourself and improve the way you feel – just ask one of our staff for more information. Tell yourself you feel better everyday, and pretty soon you will!
DO WHAT YOU CAN: Read a story to a child, friend or even yourself. Buy flowers to brighten up your home. If today is not a good day for high-powered thinking, play with a pet, clean out a messy kitchen drawer, or purge cluttered files at work. Redecorate or rearrange a room to lend a sense of newness or organization to your environment. Send a postcard to a friend. Do something, no matter how small the task, to keep feeling good about yourself. The healing process is all about learning how to love yourself – practice loving yourself in some way daily.
GROW WISER: Each phase of life comes with challenges and rewards. Common wisdom is that we have more energy when we are young and more wisdom as we age. If we try and hold on to what we were yesterday we risk missing the strength and knowledge we have gained in life. It is often easier for others to see our strengths than for us to see them ourselves. Take time to acknowledge what you have learned, how it is or can help others, and use your experience to make your world a better place. And let go of all your yesterdays – you are a new person every minute of every day – rejoice in that and live today!
STAY CONNECTED: Research shows that we live longer, more fulfilling and healthier lives if we maintain and strengthen our social ties. Call up friends and family and see how they are doing. Don’t always talk about how you feel, but instead, take an active interest in their lives. Excitement and joy are catchy – catch up with those you love and get energized.
DUMP NEGATIVITY: Avoid pessimistic, “downer” people. Don’t watch or read the news if it further upsets you. Identify negative self-messages and exterminate them, especially those containing “should” or “should have”! Regrets can muddy up your outlook. If you truly regret something, do something about it now, and then let go of it. You are not who you were – let go of that person and become who you want to be. If being optimistic is difficult, just don’t allow yourself to be pessimistic and keep yourself down. Chin-up!
WHEN PLANS CHANGE: When you make plans, always make an alternate plan B in case you are not able to participate in your original plan A. If you are scheduling an outing with a friend, build in a safety net (e.g., if you’re not feeling up to par on the scheduled date, ask your friend to rent a movie so that you can enjoy it together at your house). Plan B for a family picnic might be a fun meal on the living room floor (maybe with some or all of the treats being takeout food to ease your workload). If you have to miss a special event, always have another event planned for the future. This minimizes disappointment and gives you something to look forward to.
GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT: If you are living with a very difficult illness you have endured significant losses and pains in your life. You are more resilient and capable than you know, and you have done a lot already. Give yourself credit for taking steps to become healthier. Take pride in yourself and do something everyday to get you closer to your goals. Write your goals down and add in rewards for the accomplishment of your goals. This is both motivational and a great way to keep track of everything you’ve done and how far you have come.
Chronic illness presents many challenges, both physically and mentally. Use the techniques above in conjunction with your health program to get you to your next health goal. Motivation can be one of the largest obstacles along the natural path to better health. These techniques will help and we are always here for support and guidance. Please let us know if you need anything along your healthier-living journey and if there is any way we can help.