Creative Solutions
One of the biggest challenges across the board for those who deal with fibromyalgia, chronic pain and fatigue is the lack of mental clarity due to the pain. The “brain fog” that hangs over even the most routine days presents its own challenges to thinking at all, never mind thinking outside the box!
So first and foremost, do what you have to do to minimize the pain and bring your body to a place of manageability. For some that may mean the use of medication.
I have used dozens over the years and found over a period of time by body simply becomes immune to them and they do not work. It has been necessary for me to keep the medications to a minimum, and I’m only using one now that assists me on the more painful days and nights.
I had to learn better eating habits, discover my food triggers, embrace physical therapy and exercise, and create an environment in my home and life that was more structured, organized and less stressful.
When pain is reduced, energy increases, when energy increases, mental alertness improves. Rather than denying and resisting, I embrace and provide self-care with kindness to myself and honesty to others close to me who are affected by my struggle.
Life Outside the Box
There is no one path to reaching goals and achieving dreams. The most important thing is knowing you have the right to dream and you can chase those dreams even if the path has changed.
At my lowest point I was unable to work at all; I had been extremely active in my church and community and worked upwards of 60 plus hours a week at my job. It all came to a screeching halt.
One day I sat down and wrote a blog of sorts. I refused to believe that my worth was tied to what I did but rather in who I was. So I began to share my experiences and encourage others.
I found an online audience with 33 faithful friends and family and developed a writing skill that I had never slowed down long enough to pay attention to. I dabbled in web and graphic design and learned a skill that proved to be a worthwhile endeavor.
The desire to keep going and not give up has grown to an online audience of over 10,000 that I know of on my regular forums, not to mention the hundreds of thousands who I can encourage through my articles. Last year I published my first book. Now I’m in final edits of my second one and working on my third.
It sounds cliché, I know, but it is true: where there’s a will there’s a way.
There are countless stories of corporate executives, international speakers, published authors, business owners and entrepreneurs, and more, who found their backs against a wall and their life trapped inside a box. Yet they chose not to let their dream die and kept reaching for the sky even if they had to have a helping hand to hold their arm up at times.
Think outside the box and refuse to be limited just because fibromyalgia has changed your life. That change may be the catalyst to a dream bigger than you! Never give up.
