In the world of “Personal Development,” there is a statement that is practically considered a “Sacred Truth.” The statement is:

“What you focus on, expands.”

I’m sure you know someone who would be categorized as a “complainer.” Maybe this person is very, very close to you(!)

The complainer consistently puts what is “inconvenient” in the forefront of awareness. You know what that does to the “atmosphere.” It isn’t pleasant.

But, let’s be fair. It is easier to complain than to do something about it. We often need to “vent” the pressure which is built up as our frustrations grow when “things” don’t go our way.

Yet, doing this habitually may lead us to be blind to the “good things” of life and turn us into “crabby” people.

Having Polycystic Kidney Disease is, in my opinon, truly “not fair.” We did nothing to deserve the life limitations that this disease imposes on us.

OK. It’s not fair. So what? Whether it’s “fair” or not, we still have to deal with it.

So, what would be helpful to focus on?

Well, when I was being treated in the dialysis center, I would see patients with diabetes come in, remove their leg prostheses, and get ready for dialysis. There was one woman who was also blind. Wow!

As tired as I was being dialyzed from 8:30 PM to midnight and having to go to work the next day, I was thankful that I wasn’t one of those people.

I focused on that the fact that I was indeed still working. That I lived in a time that dialysis existed. That I lived in a time where medical technology was so much better than when my father was diagnosed with PKD and died shortly after.

I focused on what I still could do and not what I could no longer do. I could still work, read, write, enjoy music, TV, movies, etc. I could write, think, discuss things.

In fact, as I processed all of this, I realized that I could have had it a lot worse.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t happy that I had PKD. But I trained myself to focus on what I still could do.

The “stuff” I had to do to keep myself as healthy as I could I labeled as “inconveniences.” Like injecting myself with “epo.” And taking my own “numbers.” It wasn’t that nig a price to pay to keep functioning in the world.

Keep focusing on what is good in your life. You will keep the “channels” open for further good.

Peace and Blessings!

Coach Richie Perl