Disease can be an insidious challenge, no matter what it is – cancer, addiction, MS, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Lyme, lupus, leukemia, coronary artery disease – every disease.
We often spend far too much time concentrating on what ails us rather than focusing on what sustains us toward healing and recovery.
It’s not easy to focus on the right things. Changing and maintaining a positive attitude amidst disease isn’t easy. It takes a dedicated effort. It takes courage to confront why we don’t change or why we may be afraid to change. It takes a commitment to face our adversity with a different heart – a different focus.
There are many reasons for this:
- We’re afraid of the unknown. We may not like the situation we’re in, and we may know something isn’t right with our body, but knowing the truth is scary.
- Focusing on healing takes time and effort. Remember the Cheap-Fast-Good Rule? If it’s cheap and fast, it won’t be good. If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. If it’s fast and good, it won’t be cheap. Take your time. Quality is worth it.
- We’re impatient; we want results now. Patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to healing.
- We worry about what people will think if we fail. Forget about others. You’re the most important person when it comes to your own health, healing, and recovery. When others have gone through what you’ve been through, let them judge then if they must.
- Don’t focus on healing because it’s “good for you” or because you “should”. You’ll get much better results if you concentrate on your healing because you want to do it. You’re worth every effort it takes.
So, what can you do to ensure your success? There are a few things I recommend:
- Have a purpose. Want to focus on healing and recovery. Remember your disease, but don’t allow it to define you.
- Start small. Break your journey into smaller tasks. Small accomplishments feel good. Several small accomplishments lead to huge gains.
- Set the environment. That means you have to remove all elements that tempt you or could cause you to be unsuccessful in your quest. Think in terms of people, place, and things. Remove people who mislead, tempt, or discourage you. Remove yourself from harmful places that either remind you of the person you were or tempt you into returning. Remove all things around you that you don’t want to tempt or hold you back. That includes snacks from the pantry if that is your downfall.
- Connect with others. Join a support group. Enjoy the company of those who encourage and support you.
- Tell someone about the change(s) you’ve made. You’re more apt to achieve your goal if you confide in someone else about your goal or what you want to do. You now become more accountable to your goal.
I recall from my podcast on changing our focus an adage my grandfather said to me once. He said, “a turtle only advances when it sticks its neck out.” The same can be said of us. We must make the effort to heal, recover, and live well. We’re worth it. Besides, there’s no telling what glorious plans God has for us along the way.
1st Corinthians 2:9
