Does Perfection Exist?
No, it doesn’t. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing, is perfect.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but ya gotta stop looking or expecting for things to be perfect. While you are at it, stop holding yourself to a standard only to beat yourself up when you inevitably aren’t perfect.
Life with a chronic illness in tow isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about going with the flow instead of forcing things to be different. It’s about constantly adapting and adjusting your expectations along the way. It’s about trying new things to see what works and being okay with it when it doesn’t.
Why?
Because nothing is perfect and that is okay.
But wait, how can you get through when things don’t go as planned? Because so far this post is giving ‘if it’s not perfect why try vibes’.
Eliminate Your Expectations + Be in the Present Moment
I’m a control freak. I’m stubborn. I want what I want, when I want it. But that’s not how this works.
If you hold on to your expectations with a death grip you’re going to end up suffocating them. The stress of trying to hold on will negatively impact you along the way too. Trust me, I have been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
The answer is to release control - it’s terrifying but it is SOOOO liberating. It’s like frolicking outside in a field under the warm summer sun without a care in the world type of freeing. It’s deadass the best. You should try it.
Be Aware, Observe, Learn and Move On
Going with the flow doesn’t mean just throwing your arms up and letting life eat you up and spit you out.
It’s about being aware of what is going on and looking at it through an objective lens - one that is not blurred by emotions, expectations or judgments. Then you can take that observation, learn from it and figure out the steps to take to move forward.
The payoff is a smoother life and more energy to enjoy said smoother life because you aren’t fighting all the damn time.
If you are still not convinced, answer this question -
What is better and more in line with the life you want to live with illness - powering through the day, ignoring your body’s needs and collapsing in a ball at the end of the day OR adjusting to your needs as the day goes on and ending the day in smiles (or at least not tears or anger) because you *actually* enjoyed it?
Trust Yourself
This is the most important one.
How often do you panic or freak out about things only for it all to work out and for you to get through it? Sometimes mountains are mountains, but other times mountains are mole hills. Either way you will get through just like you always have.
If you need cold, hard facts, look back at all the other hard days you’ve had that you never thought you would get through. THAT is your evidence that you got this.
If you want to apply this to your life, think of something you are fighting against and ask yourself these questions:
Why am I set on fighting against this?
What am I scared of?
What expectations or belief am I holding onto?
Is this helpful? If not, should I let it go?
What would happen if I stop fighting?
What does that look like in practice in real life?
How would my life improve?
Bottom line is this, perfection is a myth and focusing on it will leave you miserable.
Alternatively, you can accept the ups and downs and adapt to live a life that aligns with your vision or not.
The choice is up to you! Whatcha going to pick?
