01 A new chapter.
Written version
When planning the content for this programme, I knew I had to start with recognition of all you’ve been and done to get yourself to where you are today.
Have you ever had the feeling - a bit of a fantasy maybe - that someone, a friend or a loved one, was going to acknowledge and celebrate all that you’ve needed to be and do in life with chronic illness; the hard times, the wins, the effort, the struggle you’ve faced?
Maybe that you’d be surprised with a night away, a lovingly written letter, some pampering, peace and rest…
I know I have!
When starting a new chapter; a different way of living with and feeling about your chronic illness and learning how to be with yourself through the ebbs and the flows, it’s important to celebrate and acknowledge all that’s been before. I won’t say that there aren’t going to be hard times or struggles moving forward - this programme isn’t about promising you a future of sparkles and sunshine, giving you permission to feel happy only then. It’s about acknowledging all that comes with chronic illness - with life - and guiding you in the practice of self-directed kindness, acceptance and gratitude as you move through it, taking the experience from being one of ‘just’ struggle and hardship, to one that deepens the relationship you have with yourself.
Today is all about planning your ceremony of gratitude. Be it from the point of view of a friend, or family member that has surprised you, or something you’re doing for yourself, the idea is that you’ll realistically be able to do it this week (with plans for something ‘all out’ in the future if you want!)
GUIDED VISUALISATION TRANSCRIPT (start time 02:35)
I’ll share my gratitude ceremony fantasy with you as a bit of inspiration and acknowledgement that it's totally welcome to dream of these things!
Two of my best friends ask me to be available one weekend. They’ve booked a place for us to stay overnight, arranged my travel to get there and on arrival, I am given a letter they’d written to me, in essence saying how awesome I am, how they admired my strength and resilience, how I’m an inspiration. Vulnerable to think these things about yourself, embarrassing even! I know, but go with it, because acknowledging these things about yourself is one huge step in being able to send yourself gratitude for simply being YOU! There were visits to a spa, hot chocolates, delicious food and movies whilst curled up on the sofa with a duvet. Plenty of belly laughs and good times, cosiness and all the cup filling stuff you can think of.
What would yours look like? Tune in - what’s the energy in your body right now? What’s it asking for? Is it rest, connection, touch, expression?
Imagine the colours and textures you’d like to be surrounding you. The smells, the sounds. Who would you like to be there? Would you like to be surrounded by loved ones or would you like to be alone? Would you like inspiration from a bustling city, or from quiet, calm nature? The sounds of old creaking trees and tweeting birds.
Keep weaving in those details. Let your imagination run wild!
Now, that level of my fantasy ceremony might not be realistic to do by the end of the week, but I’d like you to connect to your inner wisdom and plan what your ceremony would look like. If you’re craving touch, could you book a massage? If it’s expression, how about a dance class, some art materials and an hour to yourself, or maybe you can find somewhere to go and sing. If it’s rest you need, what does that look like to you? Maybe even buying yourself a special gift to arrive by the end of the week, is all you want…
Take to Pinterest, journal using the workbook or paper and pen, research the wheres and how you’ll get theres. This part of the planning and visualisation process is just as important as the actual doing. Set a timer for 15 (or more) minutes to plan it all out.
And now for a spoiler alert: Friday is going to be the day for your ceremony (with Saturday and Sunday to ‘catch up’ if you need to). So book that time in the diary now. Protect it with the importance of a meeting or a commitment you’ve made with a friend.
To recap: after the visualisation, spend 15 or more minutes planning your ceremony based on what came up for you, then book the time in the diary.