Receiving my disabling diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome derailed my life. Every aspect of my life was drastically impacted, twisted, or destroyed. Improved health or stabilization, often, became my entire focus of living.
Overwhelmed, it was easy to lose sight of who I am and difficult knowing how to live life, exchanging my was to what is; 'Is' being a fathomless unknown filled with innumerable challenges.
For a quality of life, I had to take stock of me, mentally and emotionally exchange my 'was' for a hopeful and productive 'is'...choosing to live forward. Days, circumstances, or moments will still submerge me in feeling overwhelmed living in the deep end.
The following excerpt deals with financial issues, but I find it applicable for me during periods of attitude realignment, investments of me.
==========
Robert Ringer’s
Suggestions for Feeling Overwhelmed:
· Call time out and physically and mentally come to a complete stop.
· Step back and get a big picture perspective of the battlefield.
· Eliminate everything which isn’t crucial to achieving your most important objectives.
· Don’t try to do everything; just do something.
· BEGIN
· Concentrate exclusively on the project at hand.
· Sustain your movement at a comfortable pace.
· Don’t stop until you’re done.
· Than – and only then – move on to the next project.
These notes are from Robert Ringer’s 1988 audio program, Living Without Limits. Ringer is best known for his books in the 1970’s Winning Through Intimidation and Looking Out For Number One.
==========
A healthy portfolio is a balanced one. I invest some of my time and energies in sharing my challenges and experiences with others. It helps give meaning to my condition. I invest time in normal pursuits in life. I was guilty of past practices of heavily investing more into my disabled file, not emotionally productive. I invest in me.
Investments in my life need to be adjusted daily: trade-offs, sell-offs, new enterprises...in my NOW index.
“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.” ~Unknown~
NORD is coordinating the observance of Rare Disease Day in the U.S. on February 28, 2009.
Copyright © 2009
