Evolve

It makes perfect sense when facing a challenging or difficult task to see to it that you are at your best. How exactly does that work with chronic pain? Is it even possible? Chronic pain means that we are navigating through the health system, dealing, for instance, with doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, myofascial therapists, nutritionists, health insurance, and myriad details. Each meeting and phone call is critical to our future and we proceed through them in the midst of pain. Just when we need to be at our best, we are distracted by pain.

What about that? We may be among the fortunate who have partners, family, or friends to help us. Even so, no one is more invested in our health than we are. Thus, no matter how much help we have, or do not have, we are front and center as we seek professional help for our situation. This can be a difficult spot to be in when we are not at our best. We may be attempting to marshall resources that we know exist, but have troubling accessing.

Well, we certainly can't give up. So, then what? I believe one of the most important decisions a person can ever make is whether or not to evolve. It is perhaps the most important decision because it affects every moment of life thereafter. To decide to direct our energy to becoming better is a courageous and breathtaking choice. It is a choice that abandons stagnation and embraces possibility.

As we acknowledge that we can do better and commit to finding out how to do better, we begin to look inward. This is not for the faint of heart. It can reveal work to be done. Going over a meeting or phone call that did not go well, we analyze what happened and determine what we will do differently next time. If more patience would have been useful, we can begin to practice that. If more assertiveness would have been productive, we can practice being assertive without the aggression that alienates. If a greater understanding of anatomy would have facilitated communication, we can do some research. This analysis helps us determine what we should let go and what we should pursue. It may be a slower process requiring more practice than it would have before chronic pain. However, it leads us to being our best.

Though we may have experienced loss because of chronic pain, we hold the power to change ourselves. When we say, "I am not all that I can be," our potential is revealed. We seize the opportunity to live an elevated life. To do so in the midst of chronic pain is laudable. If this is your choice, congratulate yourself. Well done.