Do you ever feel defeated because of your experience with fibromyalgia? That is easy to do. No lie, I have often felt like giving up. If you are living with fibro, it might feel like you can’t keep up—especially with everyone else (your family, your co-workers, or those that you admire). It’s hard not to compare yourself.

I know how it feels to be too tired to do the things that you want to do, let alone the things you need to do like regular chores, or running errands. I know how defeating it can feel when you have things you want to accomplish and you either just don’t have the energy or are in too much pain.

Focus on Solutions

The first thing I want to encourage is to stop beating yourself up mentally. If you are suffering from fatigue or pain, focus on the solutions to recovery instead of the things you can’t do. I know from my own experience, I’ve spent way too much time and energy being mad at my body, and guess what!? That just pushes me down even more.

However, when I recognize and accept where I am physically and mentally, I can address my needs. When I take care of myself in that moment, hour, day, week, then I improve my chances of getting back on track to work on my to-do list (or as I call it, my remember list 😊, actually a to-do list stresses me out.)

Small Wins

Do you ever pat yourself on the back when you accomplish something on your to-do list? I DO! And you should too because everything that you can check off is a big deal! The fact that you’re living with chronic health challenges means you never know when you are going to be able to do the things you want to. So, if you can check something off, definitely celebrate it.

Another reason to allow yourself to feel that small accomplishment is because our experiences and our responses to our experiences will affect our body chemistry. If you had a small win and feel good about it, it could support more feel-good neurotransmitters that just might promote more potential within you.

Using your recognition of small wins can only inspire. When you feel good about yourself, the body chemistry just may allow you to be able to check one more thing off.

The Big Deal

What’s the big deal? As you accept where you are mentally and physically when you are attempting to do the things you want, you will be less likely to push yourself. What happens when you push past your current mental and physical limits with fibro? It may set you back two steps, four steps, or even feel like 10 steps behind. That can make you feel like you lost any momentum you worked so hard to gain. The big deal here is that as you learn to manage your life with fibro you may have better and better days.

The Key is Feel-Good Chemistry

The key is to recognize where you are and feel good about what you do get done. Feeling satisfied with yourself creates thoughts that support self-esteem. And we know positive thoughts about yourself, can help create your own natural feel-good brain and body chemistry that will support your next efforts to accomplishing your goals.

I know if you are a fibro newbie it may feel like you need to fight, fight, fight. But as a 20-year fibro veteran I know that learning to live life with your own balance, without the stress of fighting the uphill battles, will get you much farther in the long run.

The Good Life Strategy

I do not like to ever admit that there are limits because I know that there are almost always ways around limits. I much rather look at fibromyalgia lifestyle management as strategy. So, celebrate those small wins, they do count! If you did the laundry today, if you went to work, made dinner, or even showered, you did great and don’t let anyone tell you any different.

Stick with me and you can develop your own fibro life strategy. Celebrating small wins boosts your mood and a good mood helps you feel better so that you can do more of what you want. I am offering a Mood & Motivation Challenge for Women with Fibro. It’s easy and free, so you are welcome to join me here: https://jenbickerton.ck.page/b97ea7f466

Celebrating you, my friend!

Hearts & (gentle) Hugs,
Dr. Jen