Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fear of Failure, Fear of Success

When we are sick, the easiest thing to do is to stay stuck. We're sick. There is no cure. We can't do what we used to do. We aren't the people we used to be. We think that gives us the right or even the obligation to just settle for the status quo. Some of us verbalize our plight to others. We give regular updates on what body part is giving is trouble today. Some of us are silent, but our body language and expressions speak volumes.

I read an interesting quote this morning in The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Creativity. We don't start things because of laziness or procrastination, but because of fear of failure or fear of success. I think it's the same for those of us who get stuck with our chronic illnesses. We often don't try to improve our health because we are afraid whatever we do will not work. We don't try to improve our health because if we are successful, we have to let part of our sick person identity go.

Despite the fact that there is no cure available to us, there are small things we can do that can improve our health. We need to muster the courage to try. The tool that musters the courage is love.

What one small thing can you do each day for yourself?

1 comment:

Bold Wonder said...

Very good Linda! I can ask for help! That's one thing I can do today for myself. I can also give myself a break during the journey.
--RR