We all need to work on finding a purpose in life and make ourselves feel better. Let us look for such a purpose all the time. If we can read and write, let us teach others who cannot do so. If we can sing, let us learn and practice music. If we can listen and make people feel better, let us do this. This shall make us focus on other things in the world and not just our challenge. The only thing certain in life is uncertainty. The best drivers have accidents, businesses collapse, there are natural disasters and fortunately, miraculous events also do take place. In my case, this was the first thing I did when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Jamuna shares her inspiring story, the baby steps that we need to take to combat any crisis, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.

When we have a challenge, the first thing we need to do is to change our attitude. This can do much more than any number of pills or medicines can do for us.

Find a Purpose

The first thing I would recommend to all, whether or not they have a health challenge is to find a purpose. We all need to work on finding a purpose in life and make ourselves feel better. Let us look for such a purpose all the time. If we can read and write, let us teach others who cannot do so. If we can sing, let us learn and practice music. If we can listen and make people feel better, let us do this.

This shall make us focus on other things in the world and not just our challenge.

Come to Terms with Uncertainty

The only thing certain in life is uncertainty. The best drivers have accidents, businesses collapse, there are natural disasters and fortunately, miraculous events also do take place.

In my case, this was the first thing I did when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). After when even doctors say the progress of MS is uncertain, I just hoped I will be on the positive side of MS and just tried my best to lead a complete life.

Do not do Excessive Research

A Tamil Proverb says, “Excess of even nectar is poison”. In most areas, especially in the area of health and wellness, this is what is happening today. Everyone knows about all the technical medical terms without the basics in place. They may not know basic biology but would know all the jargons used by super-specialists

Almost everyone browses the internet as soon as they are diagnosed with any illness, minor or major. This actually tends to give more energy to the thought that one is sick, making us feel despondent and depressed.

In the area of an ailment whose cause and cure is not known like MS, this is even more so. The moment get a diagnosis of this ailment, those who were feeling a bit confused earlier, now are even more confused. They start analysing all the labels, research and statistics of the ailment.

Whenever I meet any other person, who has also been diagnosed with this ailment, the question they ask is “Are you RRMS (Relapsing-remitting MS), SPMS (Secondary-progressive MS) or PPMS (Primary-progressive MS), as if it is something like my height, weight or even my name that I need to remember always.

As such, these classifications and names do keep changing all the time and it is meant only for the reference of the doctors or neurologists. Why should we take the trouble of remembering these labels or tags?

All we need to remember that each of us is unique and should not succumb to labels, tags or statistics.

The best part is that as our attitude is entirely in our control, we can surely work on this and become a hero or heroine, instead of a sob story. As Voltaire has said, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” This is applicable to all of us, whatever the challenge thrown at us.

©Jamuna Rangachari

Photos from the internet.

#Pain #Fear #FearOfUncertainty #Struggle #ComingToTerms #CombatingFear #DifferentTruths

Jamuna Rangachari

Jamuna Rangachari is a software professional who manages the websites of Life Positive magazine. She is also a writer and author. She has authored three books for children, two of which were published by Rupa and one by Life Positive. She has also compiled and interpreted Teaching Stories-I and II for Life Positive and has authored Dancing with Life: Living with Multiple Sclerosis published by HayHouse in 2015.