When you think about your disease, what thoughts come into your mind? If you’re like me, the thoughts that come up aren’t particularly pleasant ones.  Oftentimes. I alternate between thinking, “God, I wish I could get rid of this burden!” to “What crap am I facing next?”

Well, I do have those thoughts, but when they come, as soon as I am aware that I am thinking these thoughts, I catch myself and think,”Whoa, Richie. What’s a better thought?

And here is where I begin to mentally talk to myself. I usuually begin with gratitude: “Hey, you’ve doing more  than OK for over 11 years with the transplant. You’ve been quite stable with your numbers. Just relax and look at the good things in your life. Let’s face it, you have it better than a lot of people.”

And that gets me back “on track.”

Now, granted, your situation may be a bit tougher. I’m not suggesting that you can “self-talk” your way out of a serious medical situation.

Yet, you know that having as good an attitude as you can towards your situation is indispensable. So, how can you “self-talk” your way onto a “better” attitude?

Become curious. Allow your mind to be like a little child who wants to know everything!

“Hmm. I’m feeling a bit more sluggish than usual. I wonder what is causing this and what it might indicate.”

“Hey, you know? I’m feeling a little less pain in my back than I did yesterday. I wonder how that happened.”

These kinds of questions shifts your mind, and consequently your attitude, from being a passive “recipient” of “troublesome” information to an active mental “seeker of truth.”

Developing an attitude of curiosity adds to the sense of “adventure” to your “PKD Odyssey.”

I remember my first hemodialysis treatment. I knew that this was what there was for me to do. So, when I went, (alone, mind you, by choice,) I went with an attitude similar to my first day of high school. A bit fearful, but very curious. I had NO resistance to the experience I was about o have. Why? a) I had no choice. b) I knew many, many other people go through it OK. I was going to be of those who will do well on henodialysis. As it happened, I was only on hemodialysis for 5 months. But I did quite well. I was able to manage my fluid intake quite well, because I was curious to see how close to a liter I could come every day. It was a little challenge for myself.

Hey! It helped!

So be curious about your situation, and “self-talk” yourself into a more positive attitude!

Peace and Blessings!

CoachRichie