Thriving vs. Surviving

Thriving vs. Surviving -

Chronic illness doesn’t give usually give you the choice. Getting out of bed takes effort, and for most of us, our social battery is depleted from the moment we get up.

The idea of surviving is really hard to explain to an able person. Often times people with chronic illness are assumed to be lazy, unmotivated, or to have given up. In my case, and in many others, I think it tends to be the opposite. We want to thrive, but we’re forced to survive.

What is the difference between surviving and thriving? In my opinion, this starts with the option to choose. Instead of waking up and doing tasks because you have to, you’re doing them because you get to and because you’re excited to start a new day. You don’t look forward to bedtime, you look forward to tomorrow. You plan your future, rather than than dread it.

Living in survival mode is a habit… However, you cannot just change this habit. You have to have the right environment, the right circumstances, and the correct support.

Now, I want to challenge the idea that just because you’re in a season of survival doesn’t mean you aren’t evolving. You can evolve, grow, and change at rock bottom. Rock Bottom Up is my proof that you can still change and still make a difference even if you’re in survival mode and your life is on fire. Use your fire as fuel, don’t give it the power to kill you.

What if, your struggle and your survival is what you have to through in order to thrive. No, it isn’t fair. Sometimes life gives us circumstances we don’t deserve. You do deserve to live, to thrive, and to do more than just survive. Keep going. What if your day of bloom is tomorrow? 🥀…🌸

#keepgoing #chronicillness #fighter #awareness #lymedisease #pots #dysautonomia #chronicillnessawareness