I have been thinking about these past four years a lot lately. In 2019 I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, an infectious whirlwind of awfulness brought to me by the stealth bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, by way of one or more infected deer ticks. (If you are now thinking Eww and have one finger heading to the little corner x, please stay with me.) Prior to the diagnosis, I was five decades into going to the doctor when I wasn’t feeling well and coming away with a prescription or two.
Mostly this approach served me well, or so I thought. What it didn’t prepare me for was the massive let down I experienced when during one horrendous flare up, filling a prescription didn’t translate to feeling better. Living as I was, I did not know how to do my own detective work. I knew nothing about patience, as it pertained to my own health journey, nor did I have a clue how to positively change the narrative from “I am sick” to “I am better now.” Does my story sound familiar? Here are four essential steps, mostly philosophical steps, that I eventually adopted in order to feel better.
1. Learn to control surrender:
For those who have experienced complete debilitation due the ravages of emotional and/or physical challenges, there are times when giving up seems like the only solution. Doors open, doors close, doors open, doors close. This pattern begins to chip away at the fortitude that once gave us life. But take these inner cues at face value, as they may not have your best interests at heart. Your imperative is to seek your version of bold: Find whatever remnants of long-ago-you that remain, and carry on. Don’t allow surrender to turn into resignation. Think like a warrior and take control.
2. Don’t take one person’s word as gospel:
Part of carrying on is to be open to influences you had not thought of previously. This can take on many forms. My own path included conventional medicine. When this didn’t work, I brought in integrative medicine. When this fell short, I brought in functional medicine. Along with, I sought articles and blog posts from experts; I read books; I introduced myself to herbal therapy and other types of supplements; I inflated my daily dose of vegetables and fruits; I worked on sleep hygiene; I took Epson salt baths; I modified my supplement adoptions; I talked to friends; I made exercise a priority; I changed up my exercise routine; and I became very very patient. I dabbled, I failed, I dabbled, I realized success, I dabbled, I maintained, and finally I started to live again.
3. Find patience:
Like me, you may be more accustomed to healing yourself with the equation, Doctor’s visit + Medicine = Feeling Better. Sometimes this is profitable, and with certain health conditions conventional medicine is a necessity. But like I had, you may be feeling poorly or even worse month after month, even with your tried and true. Improving health is seldom a one-up. While our bodies are miraculous healers, often they rebel, and this becomes our wake-up call to open new and numerous doors. This requires mountains of patience. Where does all this patience come from? You! How? First, actively build a tolerance for being uncomfortable. Second, practice being in the present moment, without judging yourself or others. Third, practice acknowledging your current circumstances. Fourth, practice listening to your body. Remember, it is trying to tell you stuff. Fifth, feel broken, if need be, but then pick yourself up. Sixth, when you’re feeling rushed, consciously slow down. Seventh, let others around you in and practice forgiveness when they don’t understand. And finally, eighth, get out there and explore your options. Read voraciously, seek guidance and support, and test alternatives. Be patient with the process and you will see results.
4. Hold your heart in your hands:
As you work diligently improving your health, you must work diligently loving yourself along the way. It sounds cliché, but there are reasons why clichés stick around. I have gone through periods of self-doubt and -loathing, to name a few less-savory disabilities, but I have learned that while I may not be the most important person in my universe, I am one of the most important and therefore, worthy of self-love. For some, this, too, requires practice. But I am convinced that greater gains can be had, and goals can be reached more quickly, when we hold our heart in our hands. Seldom, if ever, is health a one-and-done endeavor. Learn to control surrender as you explore approaches that support your body, mind, and spirit. Hold yourself tenderly throughout and harness the patience to recognize that a lifelong pursuit of good health is a life filled with possibility.
"Life is largely a matter of how we hold ourselves—our hearts, our fears, our forgivenesses – along the procession of the years." -Bertrand Russell
Mary Daniel is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach dedicated to the pursuit of good health for everyone. Through her business, Your One Precious Life, she partners with clients and communities and in the spirit of collaboration, paves the way for health transformations.
Interested in a free health consultation? Visit: www.youronepreciouslife.com or email mary@youronepreciouslife.com.
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