Happy New Year Friend!
Well, just when we thought that we were saying goodbye to one of the most challenging years ever, 2021 has gotten off to a very stressful start for so many.
I hope Friend that you are doing ok and if not, be very gentle with yourself because right now, feeling stressed, shocked and sad are all very normal reactions to what is going on in the world.
I am feeling much more rested and refreshed after taking some time to simply be and doing some more inner work on acceptance was a big part of how I spent my time.
I know from personal experience that when you live with chronic illness, especially when you first get diagnosed, one of the things you can be told is that "you just need to accept your new normal."
That didn't go down too well with me when my old Doctor said those words, because my then "new normal" was physically and cognitively disabled.
That was not what I needed to hear, especially when I could barely take care of myself and couldn't work or support myself or my family!
How was I going to live, pay my rent, pay my bills, if this was going to be my "new normal"?
It don't know how you felt Friend, but I was completely overwhelmed and terrified and there was no one out there who was giving me any hope at all that there was something I could do to help myself.
Acceptance back then felt like giving up.
Giving up on myself, my life and my future. It felt like becoming a victim to the chronic illness and that there was nothing else possible for me.
That wasn't what I wanted for myself and this "new normal" was not acceptable to me at all! I knew that there was something I could do to help myself, I just needed to find out what it was.
So, that myth that acceptance means giving up was my first big misunderstanding about what acceptance actually means and by believing that myth, I was missing out on a valuable mind shift tool that would help me start getting my life back in control.
So if you are stuck in believing this first myth, look out for my email next week because I am going to share the second biggest myth about acceptance that could be affecting you too.
Let me know your thoughts on acceptance. Does it feel like giving up for you or is it something that you have been able to embrace?
Hit reply to this email as I would love to know what your experience with acceptance has been.
Big hugs
Kerry |
