Comments on: Is Having Hope Helpful? http://www.chronicillnesscoach.com/blog/?p=347 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:48:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom Robinson http://www.chronicillnesscoach.com/blog/?p=347&cpage=1#comment-278 Tom Robinson Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:51:16 +0000 http://www.chronicillnesscoach.com/blog/?p=347#comment-278 Andrea, I agree with you about laughter. It is very helpful for people with chronic illnesses to laugh. However, I don't agree with your statement that "you just have to be optimistic." I think it's often virtually impossible to sustain optimism in the face of severe pain or incapacitating symptoms, and it's very difficult to do in many other less trying circumstances. As I've written many times, one of the most effective things we can do is give ourselves LOTS of compassion. And then do the best we can to find ways to take care of ourselves, find things we can enjoy in spite of our illness, and find ways to do things for others. For more of my thoughts on this subject, see my January 15, 2010 post: Do You Try To Be More Positive? Andrea, I agree with you about laughter. It is very helpful for people with chronic illnesses to laugh. However, I don’t agree with your statement that “you just have to be optimistic.” I think it’s often virtually impossible to sustain optimism in the face of severe pain or incapacitating symptoms, and it’s very difficult to do in many other less trying circumstances.

As I’ve written many times, one of the most effective things we can do is give ourselves LOTS of compassion. And then do the best we can to find ways to take care of ourselves, find things we can enjoy in spite of our illness, and find ways to do things for others. For more of my thoughts on this subject, see my January 15, 2010 post: Do You Try To Be More Positive?

]]> By: Andrea http://www.chronicillnesscoach.com/blog/?p=347&cpage=1#comment-277 Andrea Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:04:19 +0000 http://www.chronicillnesscoach.com/blog/?p=347#comment-277 Hope and laughter can be the best cure for chronic illnesses. It is so important to always look on the bright side of life, even though it is very hard to do when you have a chronic illness and chronic pain. Laughter can help you get through those tough situations, you just have to be optimistic. Hope and laughter can be the best cure for chronic illnesses. It is so important to always look on the bright side of life, even though it is very hard to do when you have a chronic illness and chronic pain. Laughter can help you get through those tough situations, you just have to be optimistic.

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