| > | | | | perspective. "You" are not your body, any more than |
| Those of us that have a chronic illness often define | | | | "you" are the car you travel in or the house you live |
| ourselves by that illness. Rather than focusing on that | | | | in." |
| illness, this article encourages readers to think about | | | | Please don't even consider that you will always have |
| themselves as strong and healthy individuals and to | | | | fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue or whatever. View |
| watch what they think and how they form their | | | | yourself as a loving and caring person, not as |
| identity. | | | | someone who has fibromyalgia. |
| I want to talk to you about your thoughts behind | | | | For example, you cannot say to yourself, "I do not |
| having a chronic illness like fibromyalgia and how | | | | have fibromyalgia. I do not have fibromyalgia." Your |
| getting labeled with fibromyalgia, having to deal with | | | | subconscious mind records the word "fibromyalgia" |
| it daily, and having everyone tell you there is no cure | | | | and will reward you with what you think about. |
| can set you back. | | | | Another example: I had a client contact me by email |
| In my blog I've stated that I don't believe you should | | | | the other day asking if a certain symptom was part |
| accept that you have fibromyalgia and try to live | | | | of her fibromyalgia. I kind of got on her case |
| with it. In doing that, you will always have it! Rather, | | | | because she had asked me this same thing a few |
| accept that you can, do, and deserve to feel good, | | | | times before, wondering if a certain symptom was |
| strong, and healthy. | | | | related to her fibro. Even though now she's much |
| Here's a quote that I read just last night by Silvia | | | | better than when we first started working together, |
| Browne from the book "The Other Side and Back" | | | | she's still holding on to the identity of having fibro. I |
| ". . .the more you declare any illness or physical | | | | said, essentially, that she needs to lose the idea that |
| problem to be a part of you, the more you'll hang on | | | | she has fibro and that she'll never get over it if she |
| to it and refuse to let go, because we never willingly | | | | believes she will always have it. |
| forfeit anything we've woven into the fabric of our | | | | So, watch your thinking. Watch how you form your |
| identity. | | | | identity. I'm sorry doctors have wrongly told you that |
| Please don't misunderstand--I'm not saying for a | | | | you just have to deal with it. Throw that thinking out! |
| moment that you shouldn't take your illnesses | | | | You do need to have the doctor rule out anything |
| seriously. Follow the advice of the best doctors | | | | more serious than fibromyalgia. Then get into the |
| available to you; have regular physicals; educate | | | | mind-frame that you will listen to what your body |
| yourself on health issues; eat sensibly, exercise and | | | | needs, eat well, exercise, enjoy life and learn as |
| listen to your body when it tries to tell you it needs | | | | much as you can about your health and how to |
| some kind of special attention. But keep health in | | | | support it. |