(Please scroll to the bottom of this post to download or listen to this blog as an audio/mp3)
My whole philosophy around living powerfully with CFS and other chronic illness is based around regaining a sense of purpose in our lives. It’s when I felt I’d lost my sense of purpose that I struggled most to accept my illness and manage it well, and I believe it’s often the crux of depression in people with CFS and other illnesses – the loss of a sense of purpose.
I have prepared a number of blogs around this topic that haven’t yet made it into the computer (I hand-write most of my posts due to the electrosensitivity). But today I listened to an amazing podcast by Jeremy and Jason at Internet Business Mastery and I wanted to share it with you. Their podcast is generally about online business, but this particular podcast could apply to anyone. They discuss the idea of identifying your Single Motivating Purpose (SMP) in life – the underlying thing that drives everything you do in life.
Jeremy and Jason suggest you take the phrase “I get up in the morning to …… so that I can ……..” and fill in the gaps to identify your SMP. For example: I get up in the morning to learn and create so that I can make a difference and inspire people to be the best they can possibly be. That is my current version of my own SMP, but I’m still refining it. I’ve also considered – I get up in the morning to learn about myself and others so that I can make the difference I want to make in the world and inspire people to live the most fulfilling lives they possibly can.
Now it’s your turn. Fill in the gaps and let me know what you get. If you’re sick in bed most of the day it could be a challenge to do this exercise, but try it in relation to the things you love doing – the things that don’t require effort, that you thoroughly enjoy doing in life. What is at the heart of this hobby, former job, passion?
If you’re not feeling it, download the podcast and see if Jeremy and Jason can help you get it a bit clearer. I’m off to listen to it again in bed :-).
(P.S. Another really good blog/website I found today that is about people with CFS and chronic illness regaining their sense of purpose is Pajama Daze. Check it out. There’s a great Useful Links section)
Keep Smiling
Louise
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:35 — 5.3MB) | Embed
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Sonia says
So proud of you this is an awesome step forward and will be fantastic for those who would prefer to listen.
You certainly have found your SMP and are the most inspiring example of this.
xxx
Son
admin says
Thank you my beautiful friend. I couldn’t have done it without you!! Thank you for helping me stay inspired and motivated to live my purpose in life, despite the challenges we all face daily. “To Infinity & Beyond” I say 🙂
Love you
Lou