What limits us

Chronic illness limits what you can do, often dramatically. In this post I share how I have learned to look at limits in a different way.

Limits are all around us. Our limitations are physical, economic, mental, intellectual and medical. This list could be expanded, but I think you will agree, there are constraints placed all around us. Most of these are real, and some are imagined. Those that we create in our heads are the strongest and overcoming their bonds needs unique skills.

It is interesting that we always tend to focus on these boundaries in our lives. These walls that curtail us. Our heads only see the bricks, the mortar and an impediment to our progress. In my experience these include loss of mobility, lost sensation, inability to concentrate for more than 30 minutes and the ever-present fatigue, sapping the strength from my limbs. My chronic pain and multiple sclerosis had blocked the road that I saw in front of me.

Surely I must now be in despair. This mental state is not the case. The limits still exist, and I do not deny the role they have in my life. I am bounded. Looking around at these walls I then choose to look up and see an endless sky, full of unknown adventures and promise.

So what is the reality of this vista?

Choosing to concentrate on my disabilities I see potential with my writing and also using my voice. This blog has inspired me to write every week, and even write guest posts for other blogs. The weekly practice has, I think, improved my writing. Now I see potential, and this is unlimited. Equally, I am still able to talk, to converse, to share my experience. By focussing on my abilities, I don’t have this cloud of negativity obscuring my future. The darkness is blown away by the winds that are now at my back, pushing me forward on a new adventure.

Can this situation change, maybe, but I will not be dwelling on something that may, or may not, happen. My focus is on the positive. The things that will help me grow, to be a better person. It is an active choice, and sometimes it takes a supreme effort to steer my gaze away from the walls of my limits. Benefiting from these many decisions has filled the well of resolve for the days when it is difficult to avert my eyes.

Do you choose to see your abilities? Do you find it difficult? Please let me know in the comments below.

Please share, thank you.

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5 thoughts on “Living with chronic illness – Limits

  1. I like to think that I try to be positive too Robert… definitely not all the time, but the idea of always being down and thinking ‘what if?’ is so depressing. Great post!

    1. Being positive takes real work sometimes. Those dark days are tough, especially when you think ” what if” as you say. I try to press the ’RESET’ button, and start again. It can take a few presses to work ?? Thank you for the lovely comment.

  2. Hi Robert,

    I like your spirit to live with chronic illness, though I don’t know much about it. Your post is very inspiring to other people with the same illness as I tried to share it in my social circle. Thanks

    1. Thank you Chloe.
      It isn’t always easy to remain positive, but it is worth the effort. I appreciate you sharing what I am writing in your circle. I’ll check your blog too.
      Robert

  3. I think it’s always a good thing to focus on what you can do; where to from here. It’s got to the stage where I don’t really remember what life was like before and that’s probably a good thing 🙂 Lowen @ livingpositivelywithdisability.com

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