I can do this...or I can do this...

How many times have you consciously sat and thought about something in life throwing the thought "I can do this...or I can do this..." around? What were you considering at the time? What did your thoughts sound like? I know I'm not the only one who has talked to themselves either so I know you've done this at one point in time or another...but seriously...

What did your thoughts sound like? Did any of them go something like the column on the left? Did any of your thoughts go something like the right column? What did your thoughts sound like? 

I CAN DO THIS....

• think about how I'm no longer the same person
  
• think about how I've lost everything
  
• say I've tried everything and nothing works
  
• talk about how my life has been negatively changed
  
• complain that I'm gaining weight because I'm less active now because of my illness/injury
  
• get angry with my friends and loved ones 
  
• give up on the things I once enjoyed
  
• hope, wish, and pray that they will find a "cure"
  
• drive myself crazy trying change things that have already happened or spend my time wishing things were different
• complain about the number of pills I have to take in a day

OR I CAN DO THIS....

• remember all the ways I'm still the me I've always been
• appreciate what I have in my life
• explore and try the various alternative treatments that are available
• talk about my dreams and goals
• change my eating habits...even little changes help... and I can get out and go for a walk 
• say "thank you" for what everyone has done to help me when I needed it and appreciate their efforts
• spend time doing what makes me smile and feel good about being me...even if it causes me a little more pain sometimes
• know that the "cure" is me and how I will deal with/cope/manage my illness/injury moving forward 
• accept that this is my life and to change what I can moving forward to improve my life and health 
• cut back on the amount of pills I take and try different treatment options (1 pill good...2 pills better is not true)

We often complain that our illness/injury has changed us and that we have no control anymore in our lives...obviously I'd argue that. When you think about this exercise...please give thought to how you can change from doing this....to doing this.

take good care of you