Sometimes you are told you’re a flake when the truth is that you are sick or disabled. Yes, illness and disability can be huge obstacles to achieving a productive, happy life — but they don’t have to stop you. Unless you believe they can.
I’m not talking about the ridiculous notion promoted by “The Secret” and other New Age gurus that you’re somehow MAKING yourself sick just by believing it. That is just plain, irresponsible nonsense. It makes my blood boil, frankly. No, what I’m saying is that your problem is your belief that you can’t ACCOMPLISH anything because of your illness or disability.
Using myself as an example, I have several chronic illnesses that make it impossible to function like a healthy person, because I’m not. It would be foolish to expect that of myself. But I can do SOMETHING: I can write a blog post every day — though on bad days, they won’t be my best work. That’s okay. I’m allowed to be less than perfect. So are you.
My limitations require me to work around them, not through them. I can’t force myself to remember things, for instance, but I can set up Google Calendar to email reminders to me. I’ve learned to pace myself; when I run out of energy, I have to take a nap. There’s no choice about that, but I can make sure I get plenty of sleep at night so I don’t run out of steam in the middle of writing a post. I can also schedule my writing time when I am most mentally alert, in the morning. When a migraine hits, I have to stop and take care of myself. But I have numerous strategies for avoiding migraine triggers, like fragrance and chemicals, so they hit less frequently.
Everybody has some obstacle that they can’t jump over, they have to go around it. That’s what The Complete Flake is about: finding ways around all those difficulties that have held you back in the past.
What are your obstacles, and how do you work around them? Tell me in the comments below. I’d love to hear your strategies. 🙂
Photo credit: Ingorrr
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
severe joint disabilities…I used to be very athletic and fit… but I had to learn to keep going in new way, like being careful and cautious. One of the best lessons, I am always reminded that self nurturing is not indulgence. There is a huge difference. Indulgence leads to further weakness but nurturing leads to strengthening> A little indulgence will always happen but lots of self nurturing takes commitment, courage, commit and consistency..but gains can be tremendous in may unexpected ways..
I will be starting a blog on how to keep taking better and better care of ourselves.
Excellent points, Sue, thank you. And do come back when your blog is ready so I can give you some link love! p.s. If you need any help setting it up, let me know. That's what I do in real life. 🙂
severe joint disabilities…I used to be very athletic and fit… but I had to learn to keep going in new way, like being careful and cautious. One of the best lessons, I am always reminded that self nurturing is not indulgence. There is a huge difference. Indulgence leads to further weakness but nurturing leads to strengthening> A little indulgence will always happen but lots of self nurturing takes commitment, courage, commit and consistency..but gains can be tremendous in may unexpected ways..
I will be starting a blog on how to keep taking better and better care of ourselves.
Excellent points, Sue, thank you. And do come back when your blog is ready so I can give you some link love! p.s. If you need any help setting it up, let me know. That's what I do in real life. 🙂