THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Simple solutions are always the best.
January 26
“Behold, we know not anything; I can but trust that good shall fall, At last—far off—at last, to all And every winter change to spring.”
ALFRED TENNYSON
You were recently diagnosed with a relatively uncommon chronic and progressive disease. Your doctor spelled out the basics and handed you a thick packet of pamphlets and article reprints to help you better understand the illness.
At home, you began reading about debilitating physical and emotional changes that could occur as the disease progresses; the potential effects of the illness on lifestyle, relationships, and sexuality; powerful medications and the possibility of serious side effects. By the time you finished reading a series of bleak case histories, you were in a complete panic.
Later that week, when the shock had worn off, you garnered the courage to reread the material, this time with composure and a degree of acceptance. You then realized that you had focused only on the negative.
You have since been able to absorb all the messages of encouragement: the fact that physical activity helps rather than hurts the condition; the wide array of pain-relieving treatments available; the documented reality that most people with the illness live relatively normal and productive lives; the possibility of spontaneous and complete remission.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
What about the bright and hopeful side?
January 27
“Mind is the great lever of all things.”
DANIEL WEBSTER
When a psychologist friend suggested to me many years ago that there might be a connection between my violent negativity and the tendency of my illnesses to linger, I scoffed. I wondered aloud how he as a medical professional could actually believe something so “blatantly unscientific.”
My friend didn’t press the point, but he did offer some intriguing examples of the mind’s influence over the body. He recounted tales of mentally controlling pain that allowed “firewalkers” to stride across hot coals. He reminded me of a college professor we both had known who died just weeks after the death of his beloved spouse simply because he lost the will to go on living without her.
He talked about a woman who had experienced false pregnancy. There was no growing fetus in her womb, yet she so strongly believed she was pregnant that her mind triggered a wide array of actual physical changes.
Soon after our discussion, I opened myself to the possibility of a mind/body/spirit connection. I’ve since become a strong believer in that reality, and for years now I have successfully used my own mind and spirit to help in my healing.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
My most powerful tools for wellness are within.
January 28
“To learn new habits is everything; for it is to reach the substance of life.”
HENRI FRéDéRIC AMIEL
Sometimes it seems that our illness is like a three-ring circus with many acts taking place at once. Of course, we are always in the spotlight. Each day the tyrannical ringmaster, Pain, cracks his whip and forces us to jump through hoops.
We hate being at his mercy, that goes without saying, so over time we’ve found ways to defer and even defy Pain. Now, instead of having to jump through hoops several times each day, we do so less frequently. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the best we can do right now.
Or is it? Maybe it’s time to search for new ways to loosen Pain’s hold on us. Maybe it’s time to revise our “pain habits” and really break out of our rut.
First, we can open our minds to methods of pain control we haven’t yet tried, such as yoga, massage, and creative visualization. Second, we can review our present habits with a medical professional who specializes in pain management. Finally, we can create a new pain management plan by charting the type and degree of pain we experience, the methods we’ve used for control, and the ones that work best.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Pain changes, always. Is the same true of my responses to it?
January 29
“Sleep is better than medicine.”
ENGLISH PROVERB
Our ideas about sleep occasionally become convoluted. We begin to think of sleep as a guilty pleasure rather than a vital necessity. We envy men and women who claim to get by on just three or four hours of sleep a night. We then decide that sleep prevents us from fulfilling our daily responsibilities, when in fact just the opposite is true.
In order to overcome such distorted views, we might want to think back to the way we felt after surgery, radiation, or chemo treatments. We were tired all the time, and that wasn’t surprising; our wounded bodies needed to be healed and rejuvenated with lots and lots of sleep.
The point is, sleep is not optional. It is a vital healing force that has become more essential than ever in our lives. When we try to “get by” with the same amount of sleep as we did when we were healthy, or try to skimp on sleep because we feel guilty about it, we do ourselves a serious disservice. So let’s give ourselves permission, not just once in a while, but every day, to get as much sleep as we need.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
I will rest, and rest some more, and heal.
January 30
“Behavior is a mirror in which everyone shows his image”.
JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
Practically every one of us has been upset at one time or another by the insensitive way a close friend or relative is handling our illness. We’re surprised that these people aren’t more thoughtful and considerate when they’re around us, and that they don’t try to bend over backwards (just a little) in recognition of what we’re going through. But all too frequently they act just the opposite of what we expect. They are often self-centered and display inappropriate or even deplorable behavior.
Wait a minute. Is it realistic to expect that everyone we know will rise to the occasion just because we’re seriously ill? Isn’t that expecting far too much of them? The true reality is that most people react to serious illness in a manner reflecting their usual style of handling adversity or crisis. Those who tend to be angry respond angrily. Those who see themselves as perennial victims remain victims. Those who are sullen and withdrawn usually stay that way. And those who are usually kind and helpful? Well, they tend to be kind and helpful.
Here again, as in so many areas of life, we are for the most part powerless over other people’s attitudes, responses, and behavior. All we can do is state our case clearly and assertively; then let it go and get on with life.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Unrealistic expectations cause unnecessary