The journey.
When the focus is on quick results - on feeling a certain way now, of your symptoms easing now, of the impatience that builds because you put your life on hold for the thens and whens - it’s so damn easy to slip into frustration over how long it all takes.
So I’m coming in with a cliche straight out the gates; it’s about the journey, not the destination.
We’ve all heard that one before and if you eye rolled your way through hearing it again, I feel you! But put it being a cliche aside, what does it really mean for you?
What would it mean for you to fully lean into the experience of your life, as it is right now, and allow the destination (whatever that looks like) to fade into the background?
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OK, have you ever eaten a piece of dark chocolate really slowly, letting it melt on your tongue, allowing each flavour to come through one by one, feeling the form and texture change from solid and silky to smooth and velvety?
Have you ever then compared it to chomping through the next square like it’s nothing?
Exactly the same chocolate, completely different experience, right?
Although the slow melt is uncomfortable (because, when you need chocolate, you need it, right?!), a bit frustrating to begin with, and requires the patience it takes to be present, when compared to the other way of eating it, I’m guessing you’d choose the slow melt every time.
I think the same understanding can be applied to life with chronic illness.
Opting out of the experience life with chronic illness hands you - because it’s uncomfortable and painful, it’s confronting, tedious and frustrating - means you bypass what it’s here to show you, and whatever lies in and around all of that.
You bypass the opportunity of being able to experience all the colour and flavour and beauty.
That could look like growth, healing, discovery, a change of path, living the life you truly desire, learning to deeply love yourself…
To be clear, by no means am I perpetuating the notion that anything good has to be preceded by discomfort/pain/struggle…
I’m saying that it all gets to be part of the experience that also contains the joy, the pleasure, the beauty, and so on.
Life contains multitudes, right?
You’ve got the tools to be able to sit with that discomfort and pain in a way that’s supportive of your nervous system, your heart and your mind.
You’ve got the tools to approach that confrontation, frustration and tedium with curiosity, compassion and openness.
This is your life. It’s not waiting for you somewhere in the future, it’s here, now.
Sometimes it might take some exploration, but that beauty, wonder, inspiration, variety, colour…it’s all there.
And my god it’s worth celebrating.
Are you able to slow down a little, sit with whatever feelings come up, and look a little closer at what this life with chronic illness has to offer you?
NB: I also think there’s something to be said about things sticking around until they’ve fulfilled their purpose.
Practice.
I’d like you to think of examples where the journey has been equal to, or has superseded, the destination. What made it so?
Using those examples, how can you apply your learnings to the journey you’re on with your chronic illness, and really lean into it?
Write about some ways life with chronic illness has delivered a deep learning, growth or healing moment.
What would it look like for you to fully lean into the experience of your life, as it is right now, and allow the destination (whatever that looks like) to fade into the background?
What changes would come as a result of that? What changes would you need to make to allow it to happen?
I'm here, celebrating this journey with you!