Here's why it matters that you focus on thriving with chronic illness
The context and background of The Chronic Illness Struggle are important, but is it helpful to be driven by ‘breaking free’ from The Struggle, or would you benefit more from setting your sights beyond that? What would it look like for you to focus on thriving with chronic illness?
The Chronic Illness Struggle. I’ve been banging on about it for at least the past two years. You can read all about what it is here, but in short, it’s the status-quo and common narrative of living with chronic illness, that expects it to be a struggle, that expects you to struggle.
It says you should fight it, that it’s an intruder in your body and life, that you should try to push it down so that you can get on with living your life.
It says that you can’t live your life until your chronic illness is less, or, the piece de resistance…’HEALED’!
It's a notion that’s peddled by the mainstream medicine/healthcare, and it’s a what’s beneath the cloak of much of the ‘alternative or holistic’ wellness industry.
Not helpful, especially when you turn to alternative and holistic wellness to get away from all that!
Both are built on a capitalist, patriarchal, consumerist system that says you need something outside of yourself to be happy, healthy and wealthy.
(which is absolute rubbish)
And whilst that ☝️ background and context is all really important stuff to know, I don’t really want to keep banging on about it!
Why?
There is a valid reason for that, and it’s what today’s post is all about.
All of that information explains why so many of you find yourself where you are with your chronic illness.
All of that stuff resulted in me feeling the way I felt and actually, resulted in me getting so very ill.
And it’s what lead me to start my Reframing Chronic Illness podcast and become a Chronic Illness Coach.
Yay to that!
It’s still very dominant in the chronic illness world today, and for that I’m not going to stop talking about it completely any time soon.
Importantly because it’s new information to so many, and it really helps in understanding why you might be feeling the way you’re feeling.
Which helps you figure out the first steps you can take towards feeling the way you want to feel, being the way you want to be and living the way you want to live.
There’s a whole unlearning and reconditioning piece in there that’s so important to this work.
BUT, what I want to talk about MUCH more is what’s beyond that. What’s beyond The Chronic Illness Struggle, what’s beyond the status quo and single story of chronic illness…
Because whilst it’s a ‘good to know’, it’s not helpful to you for that to be biggest driving force behind you wanting to move forward in your life in a way that feels good and that doesn’t push any part of yu aside.
I.e. Moving towards working and living with your chronic illness in a more progressive, inclusive and symbiotic way.
Rather than ‘not wanting to feel X,Y,Z type of way’…
Doesn’t it feel so much more expansive to think about ‘wanting to feel X,Y,Z type of way’?
Whilst ‘not wanting’ to feel a certain type of way is SO valid, it’s based in lack and fear, which is never a great place to work or make decisions from.
Which is exactly what I’ve been feeling for a while, and why I’m now going to be making a really conscious effort to minimise the amount I talk about The Struggle and the status quo of chronic illness, outside of it providing context (after this blog post, that is!)
You can hold me accountable.
Caveat time…
The thing is, when you realise how living within The Chronic Illness Struggle has affected you, it can bring about feelings of anger, grief, sadness, disappointment and disbelief.
Feelings that are all really important to feel and work through, which is why that process is included within Your Chronic Illness Ally as foundational modules.
And so, it’s about learning to multiple truths, and to know which role each truth serves in your chronic illness journey.
Because then you can focus on what’s beyond ‘just’ breaking away from The Chronic Illness Struggle.
Beyond simply ‘feeling better’.
…I know that you want more than that.
I want you to know that more than simply ‘feeling better’ is entirely possible for you.
And your chronic illness doesn’t need to be different or ‘less’ in any way, than it is right now, for that to be true.
Which is the motto behind my work; being able to approach life now, and in the future, from wherever you are in your chronic illness journey - from however it’s manifesting in your body and life right now - in a really nourishing and aligned way.
Not only that, but it’s your chronic illness - when embraced as your Ally, guide and superpower - that helps you work towards what’s beyond better.
All the possibility; your ambitions, goals, dreams, hopes and desires.
The way you want to feel; free, liberated, flow-y, light, nourished, at home, grounded…
The way you want to be; at peace, living in harmony with your body, rooted…
The way you want to live; ambitiously, with vigour, simply, intentionally, in alignment…
All that beautiful stuff that adds the colour, texture, variety and vibrancy to life.
That’s the driving force to focus on.
But know this; starting from wherever you are in your chronic illness journey, from however your chronic illness is currently manifesting, means taking tiny steps. It means gently expanding and stretching your zone of comfort. It means doing what feels good and right and aligned to you now. It means knowing that this is a process of growth and development, and that where you begin won’t be where you’ll end.
So, what do you want your driving force to be? And where will you start?
I’m Alana, Chronic Illness Coach, Writer and Podcaster
After 10 years of trying to fix, fight and ‘cure’ my chronic illness, I decided to chuck away the rule book and instead embrace my chronic illness as my guide, ally and superpower… and I’ve never been happier or healthier!
