a thank you to all those who are kindly responding
clinging2faith:
When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
When I look in the mirror I see a 58 year old man who has lived and continues to live an interesting life!
My Dad passed away nearly three weeks ago, he was 86. I am sad about his passing but it does not stop me from enjoying life. He was a good father who treated me the same way he treated all of my brothers and sisters. There was never any pitty or sorrow coming from him, just his best effort to do the right thing as a father. He was not a crutch, but he was always there to help if I genuinely needed it.
I look at my having CF like I look at the fact that I have brown eyes. It is just another thing that helps make me the person I am. I do what I need to do to take care of my eyesight and I do what I need to do to take care of my CF. CF does not have me, I have it, just like I have brown eyes. It does not define me!
Having CF is an opportunity to be the best you can be at life. It just requires a certain kind of dedication to life that is a little unlike that of someone who does not have CF. Every human being has to do the best they can with what they have. Even those that are wealthy and without illness of any sort have to work at it. Many wealthy, healthy people have terrible lives.
If I was to dwell on all the times I was sick and all the times I missed out on something, I am sure I would get depressed. There have been occasions I have done just that and did get depressed. I have learned that when this happens it is time to seek professional help, because all the positive thinking I do will not get me out of the mess <u>I think I am in</u>. The operative words here are "<u>I think I am in".</u>
With professional help and a mild antidepressant I soon realize that my thinking plays more of a roll than my circumstances do. It will take time but you will feel better with professional help!
A great philosopher once said "its not the circumstances that count, its what you do with them that makes the difference". This is how I deal with all my problems!
If it is a situation that is unwelcome, I ask myself the question, "what can I do right now to help make things a little better", and by asking that question and taking even the slightest action to improve the situation, I find myself feeling better about things.
Your thinking and lack of positive action has got you in the mess you now find yourself in! It is a common problem. There are steps you can take right now to improve your situation.
First of all, make a list of all the things you are greatful for today and do this each day for a month. It will shift your thoughts away from all the unhappy and unwanted feelings to thoughts and feelings that make you happy. You can start this right now!!
Secondly, if you think you may be depressed or if family and friends have suggested you may be depressed, it is time to seek out professional help! If your state of mind is of great saddness and feelings of hopelessness, then start the process <u>now</u> to make contact with those who are professionally trained to help someone in distress. The steps you take now can be as simple as looking in the phone book for a psychotherapist or psychiatrist in your area, and writing their name and phone number down. Then start making calls until you find someone that can see you as soon as possible. It is important!!
Thirdly, do something good for yourself! Go somewhere or do something that always makes you happy. It is important to change your thought patterns away from sadness and towards happiness.
Fourthly, take decisive action to shift your thinking permanently! Go to the library or search on line for inspirational readings you can do on a daily basis. Buy a book by someone who has overcome adversity. Enroll in a class on forgiveness. My suspicion is that you need to not only learn to forgive others in your life who may have done you wrong, you may also have to forgive <u>yourself</u> for all the ways your life has disapointed you. I have written you earlier on how forgiveness works. Take decisive action to improve your life! Being overly dependant on others for your happiness and wellbeing can only lead to disappointment.
You can't leave your happiness up to someone or something else!
I hope these ideas help! You are wasting your life dwelling on all the negatives!
Concentrate on the positives, take positive action and I promiss you, how you feel about your life will improve. I am not saying your physical health will improve, although it may. I am saying, how you feel about yourself and the circumstances you find yourself in will improve. Take decisive action to improve your situation now!!
Your life can be better from now on, its up to you!!
Sincerely:
PeterC 58/cf
clinging2faith:
When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
When I look in the mirror I see a 58 year old man who has lived and continues to live an interesting life!
My Dad passed away nearly three weeks ago, he was 86. I am sad about his passing but it does not stop me from enjoying life. He was a good father who treated me the same way he treated all of my brothers and sisters. There was never any pitty or sorrow coming from him, just his best effort to do the right thing as a father. He was not a crutch, but he was always there to help if I genuinely needed it.
I look at my having CF like I look at the fact that I have brown eyes. It is just another thing that helps make me the person I am. I do what I need to do to take care of my eyesight and I do what I need to do to take care of my CF. CF does not have me, I have it, just like I have brown eyes. It does not define me!
Having CF is an opportunity to be the best you can be at life. It just requires a certain kind of dedication to life that is a little unlike that of someone who does not have CF. Every human being has to do the best they can with what they have. Even those that are wealthy and without illness of any sort have to work at it. Many wealthy, healthy people have terrible lives.
If I was to dwell on all the times I was sick and all the times I missed out on something, I am sure I would get depressed. There have been occasions I have done just that and did get depressed. I have learned that when this happens it is time to seek professional help, because all the positive thinking I do will not get me out of the mess <u>I think I am in</u>. The operative words here are "<u>I think I am in".</u>
With professional help and a mild antidepressant I soon realize that my thinking plays more of a roll than my circumstances do. It will take time but you will feel better with professional help!
A great philosopher once said "its not the circumstances that count, its what you do with them that makes the difference". This is how I deal with all my problems!
If it is a situation that is unwelcome, I ask myself the question, "what can I do right now to help make things a little better", and by asking that question and taking even the slightest action to improve the situation, I find myself feeling better about things.
Your thinking and lack of positive action has got you in the mess you now find yourself in! It is a common problem. There are steps you can take right now to improve your situation.
First of all, make a list of all the things you are greatful for today and do this each day for a month. It will shift your thoughts away from all the unhappy and unwanted feelings to thoughts and feelings that make you happy. You can start this right now!!
Secondly, if you think you may be depressed or if family and friends have suggested you may be depressed, it is time to seek out professional help! If your state of mind is of great saddness and feelings of hopelessness, then start the process <u>now</u> to make contact with those who are professionally trained to help someone in distress. The steps you take now can be as simple as looking in the phone book for a psychotherapist or psychiatrist in your area, and writing their name and phone number down. Then start making calls until you find someone that can see you as soon as possible. It is important!!
Thirdly, do something good for yourself! Go somewhere or do something that always makes you happy. It is important to change your thought patterns away from sadness and towards happiness.
Fourthly, take decisive action to shift your thinking permanently! Go to the library or search on line for inspirational readings you can do on a daily basis. Buy a book by someone who has overcome adversity. Enroll in a class on forgiveness. My suspicion is that you need to not only learn to forgive others in your life who may have done you wrong, you may also have to forgive <u>yourself</u> for all the ways your life has disapointed you. I have written you earlier on how forgiveness works. Take decisive action to improve your life! Being overly dependant on others for your happiness and wellbeing can only lead to disappointment.
You can't leave your happiness up to someone or something else!
I hope these ideas help! You are wasting your life dwelling on all the negatives!
Concentrate on the positives, take positive action and I promiss you, how you feel about your life will improve. I am not saying your physical health will improve, although it may. I am saying, how you feel about yourself and the circumstances you find yourself in will improve. Take decisive action to improve your situation now!!
Your life can be better from now on, its up to you!!
Sincerely:
PeterC 58/cf