Harnessing Hope To Live Chronically Well
“As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by.” - Lao Tzu
These wise words from Lao Tzu beautifully encapsulate the power of hope when navigating life with a chronic illness.
Living with a chronic illness can often feel like traversing a maze with no exit in sight. You may encounter unexpected twists and turns, dead ends, and daunting obstacles that make you question your ability to find your way through. But here's the thing - hope can serve as your compass, guiding you through this labyrinth of challenges.
Possibility Amidst The Challenges
Maintaining hope is more than just wishful thinking—it's about believing in the possibility of change and improvement for your health and/or quality of life. It's about knowing that your wellness practices and habits can provide a sturdy foundation for your overall well-being.
Remember, it's not about denying the realities of your illness or having unrealistic expectations. Instead, it's about finding a balance between accepting your condition and believing in the potential for growth and improvement. This balance can help you approach your chronic illness with resilience and determination.
For more reading about accepting the parameters of your chronic illness - check out this blog post.
Hope In Action - Wellness Practices
Adopting a Thriving Mindset and making healthy lifestyle choices are practical ways of keeping hope alive. These actions can foster a sense of agency in the parts of your life and health where it is possible. Having this agency can significantly boost your hope levels.
Whether it's embracing a nutritious diet, engaging in regular physical activity, practicing mindfulness, or ensuring adequate rest—every small step contributes to your overall well-being and reinforces your hope for a healthier future.
This form of hope becomes a driving force, fueling your actions towards better health and quality of life. It's grounded in the understanding that your daily wellness practices and habits—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant—can create a sturdy foundation for your overall well-being. Each healthy meal, each restful night, every mindful moment adds up, strengthening this foundation and reinforcing your capacity to manage your condition effectively.
For more reading about hope, check out this blog post.
Hope in Healthcare - Finding Your Support Team
Having hope extends beyond personal practices—it also involves finding the right healthcare providers who can support you in your journey.
Healthcare professionals (traditional or integrative) who understand your condition, listen to your concerns, and provide necessary care and guidance are invaluable allies in your health journey. Their expertise and support can bolster your hope, providing reassurance that you're not alone in your struggles.
Unfortunately, this can be difficult for many of us to achieve. Our healthcare system is not set up for us to be passive participants. It can be incredibly difficult to find the right providers, find your answers AND get insurance to cover it. However, if you are still looking for answers on how to diagnose, manage or treat your chronic illness, I implore you not to give up!
I know this is a lot to ask of someone who is probably feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. But, unfortunately, our healthcare system frequently requires your active participation in order to get the healthcare you deserve. The way I handle this in my own life and with my clients, is to set small goals around researching, setting up appointments, making calls, appealing insurance denials, etc. Setting a weekly goal regarding making one small step can keep things moving forward.
For more reading about self-advocacy in the healthcare setting, check out this blog post.
The Power Of Hope - A Driving Force In Your Journey
Hope serves as a powerful motivation that gives you direction and energy to keep moving forward. It provides a map to navigate the complexities of living with chronic illness. It's an anchor amidst the tumultuous waves, keeping you steady and focused on your wellness goals.
Incorporating hope into your daily life can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being. It can help you cope with the difficulties of living with chronic illness and provide a sense of purpose and meaning. This starts with having a vision for what you want, and then taking action towards it. This can lead to slow, yet transformative change in your life.
For more reading about motivation and vision, check out this blog post.
Find YOUR Chronically Well Mindset!
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My Story - Finding Hope Amidst Uncertainty
There have been points in my chronic illness journey when I did not think that I would ever feel healthy. And, beyond that, I was living in fear of another cancer recurrence. In short, I did not have a lot of hope.
As you may know from my other posts and my bio on this website, I have had recurrent lymphoma and autoimmune issues. I have been treated with chemo and radiation, and still live with uncertainty about whether I will need treatment again. Based on these experiences, hope felt somewhat unattainable at times.
However, once I shifted my mindset out of dwelling on the fear and frustration, things started to shift. Granted, it was sllloooooowwww. But, I also did not know what the hell I was doing. In hindsight, I know I could have been more efficient - if only I had known a health coach! However, the important thing is that I became open to finding a different path forward. I tried to slowly work on my wellness and make decisions in my life that prioritized my health rather than pushing myself too hard and staying on the hamster wheel of fatigue, stress and recurrent illness.
It was very hard for me to say “no” to different things in my life or to find alternate ways to accomplish them. But, once I let go a little and started to consider what I could responsibly handle in a day without impacting my health, the tide began to turn. And, once I gained knowledge of what was possible for me, I was able to focus on those matters more than the looming unknowns of cancer recurrence. The effect was that I not only started to turn my health around, I started to become more and more hopeful about what I could do to increase my quality of life.
In conclusion, remember Lao Tzu's wise words: "As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by."
Hold onto hope, believe in your ability to make positive changes, and keep moving forward on your journey towards living well with chronic illness.
Your chronic illness may be a part of your life, but it doesn't define you. With hope, you can shape your narrative, charting a course for a more balanced, more fulfilling life that results in living Chronically Well.
What If you had the audacity to hope for a better quality of life with chronic illness? What could be possible for you?
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