My husband graduated last week and I couldn’t be more proud of him. At his graduation ceremony, a professor receiving an honorary degree gave a brilliant speech. This woman had achieved an incredible amount in her life and she credits her success to being open to taking risks. She encouraged everyone graduating that day to be willing to take risks. She advised that if we don’t, then we won’t succeed or progress to our full potential. There is only so much that can be achieved staying within our comfort zone.
It got me thinking about chronic illness. How many of us are willing to take risks? And how many of us are left feeling stuck because of our unwillingness to step outside our comfort zone and try something different? Of course, it goes without saying that you should not go into something blindly; you have to weigh up the pros and cons and decide if the risk is worth taking. There will be occasions when sometimes it isn’t. But, equally, if you never take any risks then nothing about your situation is going to change.
When contemplating taking a risk I ask myself two questions: am I happy where I am and what’s the worst that could happen? If the answer to question one is no, then you can hedge your bets that I am going to be open to trying new things and will be doing my best to change that. I always need consider the worst case scenario though and think about whether I could handle that should it become reality. By considering it, I can also problem solve ways to minimise the likelihood of it happening.
Taking the Vital Plan Restore Program was a risk for me. What if it didn’t work? I had already tried so many things that hadn’t, after all. It was a big financial investment and that did hold me back initially. On researching the program I learned that the potential for side effects was low and it was highly unlikely to negatively impact my health. The worst case scenario was that I would be left out of pocket. I had to make a decision; risk losing out on money or continue to feel as awful as I did. I figured I would rather lose money trying than never knowing. I was willing to do anything to improve my situation. Luckily for me, the risk was worth taking.
Previously, I went through a phase where I wasn’t willing to do anything it took to get better, however, because I wrongly assumed I had tried it all. When you try and fail again and again you can lose the motivation to even try. I had resigned myself to the fact that my fibromyalgia had progressed to a point of no return. I began to believe that my life was always going to be that way. I thought that it wasn’t possible to improve from that point. The truth is I got in my own way of feeling better because I wasn’t open to taking risks. I never even looked for new or different ways to feel better because I had lost hope. I had pretty much given up. It was reading “Suffered Long Enough” that gave me the wake up call I needed and ignited the fight back in me. I am very thankful for Dr. Rawls for writing that book and for reaching out and asking me to review it. Where would I be had I not read it? I dread to think.
I guess everyone will reach rock bottom at one point or another when they have this illness. The question is, are you willing to take risks and find a way to climb back up again or are you happy to remain at such a low? I knew I wasn’t happy but I needed a helping hand to find my way back up again. It took a leap of faith and a lot of determination but I am climbing my way back up and I now know that I need to be open to taking risks and exploring anything that could potentially help me along the way.
What about you? Are you open to taking risks?
I am open to taking a lot of risks, unless the situation puts my life or health in jeopardy. I don’t know if it’s because I am super aware of my fibro, but as the years go on I have become more fearful of adventure activities in a way that I never used to be. It’s a little frustrating because I used to be all about skydiving and rock climbing, etc. Now I get shivers when I think about doing those things. Hoping I can work my way back to fearing less!
It’s a shame that we can no longer enjoy some of the things we used to– it’s very much got to be about deciding whether the impact of doing those activities will be worth it or detrimental. It’s the same for me and roller coasters really, I just don’t enjoy them the same as I used to. But here’s hoping that taking the risk I am in terms of treatment etc will help get me back to a place where I might be able to enjoy them again in future 🙂 Hope the same for you too
I did the same cost/benefit analysis and pushed myself into a naturopath protocol, after a lot of money and a promise that I’d be pain free after six weeks, I was left in a massive funk and out a lot of money. I’m in a smaller scale phase but still going! Dribose isn’t for me. COQ10 probably isn’t (going off it soon to see if that makes a difference). And will do a couple of other natural options too 🙂
Sorry to hear things didn’t work out for you there. I had a similar experience with nutritional therapy– the annoying thing about it is the diet works for me but high levels of vitamins do not agree with me. I wish I had just ditched the vitamins and stuck with the diet rather than ditch both. But you live and learn. I think that experience was the reason why I went into a funk and didn’t want to try anything else. I’m glad I decided to take another risk 🙂 I think the important thing to remember is that anyone who promises quick fixes should be approached with a lot of caution and more often than not avoided. If you recount most people’s accounts of recovery, it takes months if not years to improve.
What a great post. I feel like I used to be so closed off, I hated change and wouldn’t risk anything but with going to Stanmore, that’s a massive deal to me…a few years ago I probably wouldn’t have even considered it. As long as I’m not going to injure myself or end up in the worst flare, risks are worthwhile.
Sarah | sarahinwonderland.co.uk <3
That’s great that you have seen a shift in perspective Sarah and that it has open up new opportunities to you. I wish you all the best with going to Stanmore and I hope it equips you with all the tools you need to help you progress forward 🙂
Great pots Donna and so true! I’ve been challenging myself lately to try new things. I figure there have been many in my life that I thought I’d never enjoy and once I tried something I found that I did so these days I’ll try anything.
Thanks Julie. Im developing the same attitude 🙂 There are so many things I really enjoy that I once thought I never would, so I’m definitely more open to trying things now