No doubt in my mind — Barack Obama has touched a nerve in people that is crying out, saying, ” don’t know if I believe, but I still have hope.” I see people energized about voting that never blinked a cynical eye in front of a voting booth before.
And, hope is what gets you up and going when you live with a debilitating chronic illness. A post in the blog, Positive Psychology the audacity of hope and dealing with chronic illness , looks at what hope does for us as we face fear, fatigue and pain.
I’m paraphrasing the post: When you get a diagnosis, first you experience fear. After many other emotions, only then can you move on to: Now how do I live my life? Realistic optimism is indispensable.
In his book, The Anatomy of Hope, Dr. Jerome Groopman spends an entire chapter on the topic. “Deconstructing Hope” looks at hope from many angles. Groopman concludes with this: “For those who have hope, it may help some to live longer, and it will help all to live better.” Amen to that.
I must admit that I have little faith in the idea that our political system will change dramatically. I do have faith in the notion that no matter what your experience is, with hope, you can find the will to go on. One clear path to do that is to continue to feel you’ve got something to offer, something of value, that brings you beyond your illness. Work is a route to connecting to that part of you that is hope.
Rosalind aka cicoach.com
Stacy says
Hi Rosalind, If you liked “Anatomy of Hope,” have you read “The 5 Gifts of Illness” by Jill Sklar? It’s really great, and I think you would like it a lot. Hope you are doing well!
Rosalind says
Hey there, Stacy, I have purchased and read part of The 5 Gifts – but put it down due to so many other things on my plae. WIll finish it now that you mention it. I’m doing great. And you? How’s the new job working for you?
Rosalind
Mary says
I loved Jerome Groopman’s book!
One of the many things he said that I liked was that hope can flourish only when you believe that what you do can make a difference.
A cure for my maladies? I would love that-but it remains in the back of my mind as a hope. Thinking about a cure does not help me get up every morning, or to do my work, or feel better today or tomorrow. I can only pray that I use each day and its allotted amount of energy in the best way I can. And I hope that the things that I do, the supplements I try, the medicine I take, all contribute to making a difference in the way that I feel.
Mary
Rosalind says
Dear Mary- What I like about your quote from Groopman’s book is that believing that what you do makes a difference has so many implications. As you point out, it doesn’t matter precisely what you do as long as you do it with intention. Do you work? Does that help you?
Rosalind
Mary says
Hi Rosalind-yes I work–this is Mary McKennell here.
The work that I do makes a difference in people’s lives. I used to think that it mattered if I developed or managed programs that affected large number of lives, but I have learned to be content with touching one life at a time.
I gave a copy of the 10 things I want you to know handout to my new office-mate. I have not had to share office space in many, many years-so he is exposed to aspects of me behind our closed door that others do not see. I have a new supervisor and think I am going to use it with him also. My job has changed drastically and I have lost a lot of built in flexibility that I used to have to take rest periods. So i think I am going to have to talk to him about my needs.
Rosalind says
HI Mary “old friend” – Good to hear from you. So glad to know that the article helps. I have a hunch you’ll do a good job with that conversation. You go for it, girlfriend!
Rosalind
Mary says
I was not certain where to blog about this. This is still a new process for me. I noted that you had jerome groopman’s latest book listed-How Doctors Think. wow! What a book! Some chapters make me cry. Some make me think. And some make me just downright uncomfortable. For those of us with “weird” illnesses-his section on how to talk to a doctor so that they think outside the box was realy valuable!!
Rosalind says
Getting doctors and employers to think “out of their box” is very tough. We have to use our best language skills — and even then, it doesn’t always work.
Rosalind