Earlier today, I was searching how keep a positive attitude toward living with m.s. Rambling around Twitter, "MS Cure Fund"(https://twitter.com/MSCureFund) caught my attention. I was particularly taken by their motto:
Strength For Today . . . Hope For Tomorrow
"Positivity":
Many newly diagnosed MS'ers write about how they intend to thrive while living with a progressive disease that has no cure. Brave words, seeming to me, to describe mutually exclusive situations.
It is worrying that by being overly optimistic, people may be setting themselves up for failure. The struggle with m.s. made harder by creating frustration and self-blaming over perceived "weakness" when energy is replaced by bone numbing fatigue.
Is this being negative or being realistic about the future of life with a progressive, disabling disease with no cure?
Asking for strength in the present to deal with the trials and tribulations of m.s. while maintaining hope for the future seems like an effective formula. Albert Einstein said, 'Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.'
Dealing with chronic illness requires constant vigilance to ward off depression. One of the best methods to accomplish this is by staying in the moment. Practicing mindful meditation can help you develop such a mindset. The present is the only time we can take actions to maintain our health and to keep a positive attitude.
We need more than a "smiley face" to keep our spirits up.
Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, developed what he calls PERMA resilience skills to maintain our psychological fitness and well being. Meaning and purpose keep us healthy.
PERMA:
Positive emotion
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment
Another Positive Psychology proponent Dr. Barbara Fredrickson prescribes
She discovered that experiencing positive emotions broadens people's minds and builds their resourcefulness in ways that help them become more resilient to adversity and effortlessly achieve what they once could only imagine.
With Positivity, you’ll learn to see new possibilities, bounce back from setbacks, connect with others, and become the best version of yourself.
In short, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson gives you the lab-tested tools necessary to create a healthier, more vibrant, and flourishing life.
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