If you’ve lived through difficult times and come out on the other side, it’s most likely due to resiliency — the key to overcoming adversity.
This week I’m revisiting the beginning of The Power of Change.
In October 2022, I launched this newsletter to discuss the importance of resilience and help others navigate challenging circumstances.
After years of health issues and significant losses (my job, career, marriage, and my father’s death), it was time to celebrate that I was still standing.
It’s not to say I’m always steady and don’t stumble. I stumble a lot.
But I learned to change my mindset and perspective and use that to my advantage.
I began to live chronically well.
This is the basis of The Power of Change, so I’m dedicating one post a month to one aspect of living chronically well.
Chronically Well
If you’ve been reading, you know I have several chronic health issues with no known cures. That hasn’t changed.
But what has changed is my ability to enjoy life, despite my symptoms and my limitations.
It took years of diligent, concentrated effort to change how I thought about my illness and life. I worked with numerous mentors, coaches, and professionals.
I read, studied, and practiced the skills I learned.
I worked at being well.
Learning to accept my situation was the first step.
Acceptance
I accepted I may not know why I became ill. And I may not get better.
I wasn’t pessimistic. I was being realistic.
I had an UNKNOWN illness. Medicine is a science of cause and effect. Not knowing the cause meant there was no solution.
It also meant I would be dismissed and ignored like many other patients.
The careless attitude of those who were afraid to admit they couldn’t help later led to my advocacy work, but first, I had to take a giant step and accept that no one in a position to help cared to understand why I was suffering.
Accepting that fate changed my attitude and my mindset.
I was no longer powerless.
I was sick as hell but determined to find help, answers, and a solution.
Learning to accept the reality of the situation put me in the driver’s seat. I regained control and started on the long road to find answers.
It’s painful to accept that a situation may not change, but it can be enough to get you started on a different path.
The road may be bumpy, but no one is immune to life’s hardships.
Acceptance helps build resilience.
Resiliency saved me.
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I am so proud of the woman that you have become despite the setbacks you have encountered. Not only have you endured , but you have become an advocate for those without a voice and given them hope, inspiration and important information to change their lives.!!!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings about living with a chronic condition. I agree the first step is acceptance and then, even with uncertainty, to never lose hope.