How Changing Your Mindset Can Open Up New Possibilities for Healing

It’s tough to maintain emotional well-being while struggling with chronic illness. The constant barrage of symptoms wears us down and can dishearten even the most resilient among us. Hopeful thoughts can easily be pushed into the abyss of hopeless expectation, making it imperative that we get intentional about identifying the thinking that shuts us down. “Change your mind, change your life” may seem like an overused euphemism, but there is nothing truer. I believe the outcome of my own chronic struggle with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome), from toxic mold exposure, would not have ended so favorably if I had not eventually identified the truth in those words of wisdom.

Recognize the Value of Analyzing Your Thoughts

In the early days, before my diagnosis, I experienced many serious symptoms that were not understood by my physicians. Standard tests came up empty. My doctors were caring professionals, doing their best with the knowledge they had… but they were stumped. And I was getting sicker and sicker, feeling less and less hopeful.

When a body is weakened by the assault of chronic illness, even the simple, daily activities of life become overwhelming. Many times, we are thrown into “auto-pilot mode,” in response to the tremendous energy drain from simply trying to get through a day. Acute awareness of our thoughts is not, typically, foremost on our minds. That was my experience, in the early days of my illness. But thankfully, I eventually realized that my thoughts held incredible power. I became aware that my central belief (my subconscious expectation for healing) held all kinds of untapped resources, not only for my day-to-day feeling of well-being, but for my ability to eventually find healing.

Get Intentional With Thinking Patterns

Throughout those early years, when answers were elusive, my emotional well-being was tenuous, at best. The lack of answers from medical experts created fear-driven, mental havoc, and because there was not a clear-cut diagnosis, it was difficult for some of the people in my world to take my illness seriously (a common experience for those who deal with chronic illness). More than one eyebrow was raised, as I poured out my myriad of complaints. At times, it felt as if a neon “Hypochondriac!” sign floated, accusingly, across incredulous expressions. Granted, I could understand how bizarre it all must have seemed to those on the outside of my erratic experience, but it caused me a great deal of mental and emotional anguish, nonetheless. So, I became adept at mostly not talking about it, which put me in the strange position of being gravely ill, without the emotional freedom to openly speak about it or elicit the compassion and full support that was so desperately needed. There were many times when I felt totally alone, sinking in a sea of utter confusion and fear, inching closer and closer toward hopelessness.

Embrace Hope – Even If You Don’t Feel Hopeful

Eventually, it became clear to me that if I were to have any chance of finding the answers that would lead me to the root of my illness, I was going to have to gain control of my thoughts. I could feel myself testing the waters of hopelessness, and that was not an option for healing! I needed to embrace hope… even if I didn’t feel hopeful.

Just to be clear, I’m not suggesting that living in denial of reality is healthy or helpful. Feelings of isolation, sadness or even anger around the experience of life with chronic illness are legitimate. Reality is reality. And there is value in all of it, even in the negative emotions, which can function as a pretty great motivator! Unfortunately, those emotions can also shut us down. What we choose to believe, regarding the outcome of our journey, is critical. If our central belief is that nothing will ever change and no one cares, we stop trying. If we believe there is no help available, we stop searching, rendering us unable to see answers, even when they are right in front of us! And that is only the tip of the iceberg of belief.

There are many studies which have proven the literal power of belief for physical healing. A simple example lies in the “placebo effect” of medications. A certain percentage of people, who believe they are taking a powerful medication (even though they are not), will find healing. A quick Google search will bring both scientific and anecdotal evidence, describing the healing effects of belief. Our brains control every single tiny function of our bodies. The idea of sending intentional messages of healing, directly into the mind’s central hub, made logical sense to me and (perhaps most importantly) I believe those intentional thoughts can offer further psychological support for belief in a hopeful outcome. I began to understand that what I believed mattered. And it mattered a lot!

Whenever I found my thoughts being framed around “my illness,” I would intentionally shift it to “my healing.” Every single night, before drifting off to sleep, I would repeat affirming thoughts around my healing. Thoughts like, “I will find the answer to this problem. I will be led to the doctors who can help me figure this out. I will be healthy again.” And later, when I was led to answers, I changed those statements of belief to “My immune system is intelligent. My body is functioning optimally,” etc.

Were those thoughts and prayers of belief a reality at the time? Not at all! But, they changed my subconscious expectation, which I believe fueled my determination (and energy level) to find the answers that I needed. And it also opened my eyes of awareness, enabling me to see the nuggets of critical information that were routinely placed in my path.

As I recited the nightly affirmations, I purposely placed myself into those words of belief… as if it had already happened. I did that so I could feel the euphoric emotions of that grand day, when those beliefs would be realized. Don’t miss that part! It’s important. Feel the emotions of what you are choosing to believe. There is nothing woo-woo about it. It’s simply about sending the signals to your mind that this thing is what is expected. Rest assured, your mind is paying attention.

Give Yourself a Break

There will be harder days than others. It happens. And there may be times when you will lose sight of the objective. That happens, too. Don’t let a bad stretch usher you down a permanent path to nowhere. Just see those more difficult times for what they are: harder days – which will pass.

Often, I would pull myself away from the endless research and reality of my situation. Even short periods of time away proved to be a useful strategy for staying in a more productive mindset. The following are suggestions that may be helpful to you. They were some of my “go-to” strategies for renewal:

1. Go outside into a beautiful, natural setting. Breathe deeply in the healing vibes of nature, while visualizing the emptying of all else. Finding Stillness by becoming fully immersed in the moment is incredibly helpful in re-aligning and refueling for the continued journey. Finding sacred space puts us into perfect alignment for guidance with the Divine. Whether you believe in a higher power or you don’t, there is tremendous regenerative and healing power, which awaits in Stillness.

2. Call a sympathetic, supportive friend, who can speak emotional care over your need. There were a few people in my life who never wavered, who were always there, no matter how crazy it got. Those friends were key to my emotional survival. Hurting people need loving support. If you don’t have friends and family who can be there for you, there are many support groups on social media platforms which are filled with people who also struggle with similar issues. There is no reason to try to go this alone.

3. Figure out how to laugh! Laughter helps us feel “normal” and sends unspoken cues to our psyche that all is well. Don’t ignore the humorous things that might happen in a day. Intentionally pursue laughter by sitting down with a funny movie or comedic routine. There is an old adage that says, “Laughter is the best medicine.” And, if you can find a buddy to share the laughs with you, that’s a double dose of good medicine.

4. Grab a warm blanket and a hot cup of comfort, turn on some soothing music and grab a good read. Allow yourself to take a break from thinking and researching. The reality of your life will wait for you to come back to it. Immersing yourself into another story will allow you to retreat from your own, for a time of renewal. For an added bonus, read stories of victory through adversity. We all need to be inspired to keep us on the right track.

My chronic illness was centered around mold illness. During that same time-frame, I also struggled with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease (which is now in remission). I believe these suggestions for maintaining a healthy mindset would be helpful for any type of chronic illness. Or for life, in general, for that matter!

I don’t know your story, but I wish you the best as you continue down your pathway toward healing. Walking down the same road makes us sojourners, and we have the ability to help one another avoid the potholes and dead ends along the way. Above all, I want to encourage you to never give up! There is an answer out there for you. If you continue to seek, you will find.