If you’re fortunate, you’ll live your entire life without a serious illness. You may face one yourself or be acquainted with someone who does, though. You can find ways to look at these challenges in a positive light that keeps your spirits up.
How you approach your diagnosis can actually affect how quickly you get better. Studies show that your attitude can also affect how long you survive a terminal disease. Many people shrug off the power contained in positive thinking, but there are real benefits to looking on the bright side of things.
Accepting the Challenge
Health challenges can provide opportunities to learn more about yourself and show your strengths. Accept the challenge and devise a plan to help you get through it. When your mind is focused on what you can do, rather than what you can’t, you’ll find that you really can accomplish more!
During a serious heath challenge, consider the following strategies to allow more joy into your life:
1. Pray. Pray or meditate each day to gain spiritual or emotional strength for the challenge. Visualize your physical strength building each day.
2. Be honest. Be open and honest with yourself and others about the fears you have. Talk through them and then make the decision not to live your life around the “What if’s.”
3. Celebrate the joys in your life. Find something to celebrate each day, even if it’s something small, so you remember to be joyful.
4. Help others. By reaching out to others, you’re putting your own challenges into perspective. It also temporarily takes your mind off your own challenges, which can be healing relief in itself.
Accepting the challenge and learning a more positive way to look at it can make it much easier to handle – both mentally and physically. Some obstacles can be overcome in time. Others provide opportunities to grow as a person throughout the challenge.
There’s More to Life
In the darkest of times, there’s still light. Even those who are facing serious health challenges can laugh, love, and find joy in life experiences. The time to look for joy is always now. As long as you have life, you have the opportunity to see joy and give joy away to others.
Friends and family can help you find happiness in the little things. But you’re also capable of locating them on your own. Choose to think positive thoughts and use positive self-talk in your life. Accept your negative emotions, learn from them, and then push them away so you can see the joy that remains.
If you’re capable, reach out to others who are struggling. You can do this through cards and letters, over the phone, or online. The people you touch with your life will appreciate you and you’ll feel a sense of peace. You’ll also experience a new understanding and friendship from other people.
Above all, live in the precious present moment. See the joy that’s available in the little things and in your personal relationships. See what you can do to help others and bring joy to their lives. Having a purpose will keep you positive and interested in life, no matter what health challenges you face.
