As we have often been told, we can look at challenging situations as “the glass being half-empty or half-full.”

This phrase, “true” as it is, has been so overused that it has lost much of its impact.

So, I’d like to “re-impact” the value of this famous phrase.

Continuing somewhat from my last post, we know that you can “talk yourself” into almost any emotional state.

I’m sure that most of you, either personally or through observation, have a experienced a young person being rejected by a would-be “special friend” responding by saying something to the effect that “I’m a complete loser because So-and-so rejected me!” and is done with considerable histrionics.

You also know that it isn’t helpful to respond to that young person by saying, “You’re not a loser!” because it goes against what the youngster is experiencing and your comment, although said with the best of intentions, won’t be “heard.”

When a PKD patient is facing a current challenge, it often happens that his/her mind, because of its survival instinct brings up the “worst-case scenario.” (See the comment on my previous post.)

OK. The situation is probably not as dire as your mind makes it out to be. So, how do you train your mind to see the situation as “half-full?”

Well, given the principle stated above that “you can talk yourself into any emotional state,” start telling yourself “good things.”

Like, “Well, at least the diagnosis was made now and not later.” or, “Let me find out as much as I can about this situation.” or, “Hey, I’ve been through challenges before. Here’s just another one one my PKD Odyssey.”

You get the idea.

Because it’s not just the words that you tell yourself.

The words cause mental images to form in your mind which in turn causes various hormones to work on your body in either positive or negative ways, depending on the inner images.

I would think it would helpful to generate as positive an emotion as you can!

Don’t you?

Therefore, notice what you tell yourself when you are presented with a medical challenge. If your mental words conjure up a worst-case scenario, take a deep breath, and ask yourself, “Is this REALLY the case?”

It probably isn’t.

At least wait until you get the complete information.

Because if you see the situation as the glass “half-empty,” pour it into a smaller glass!

Peace and Blessings!

Coach Richie Perl

Certified Professional Coach

Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming