Recently, I read an article, Accepting Oneself Is Key by Michael C. Blackwell, the president of the Baptist Chilcren's Homes, in that organization's Charity and Children newspaper. I receive it because it's a neat publication and because my family gave to the charity when my mother died in 2005. You see my mom grew up in the Thomasville, NC, facility and doing so enabled her to have a grand life.
As I read Dr. Blackwell's words about accepting oneself, I realize how much you and I can apply his same strategy to healing from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and a myriad of illnesses. He approaches acceptance from a personal image standpoint. That applies to us because sometimes you and I envision our own body as the enemy! Let's check out his points:
- Be comfortable with your body. If you always wish your body was something different, you can't appreciate or accept it as it is. Dr. Blackwell says, "Because of its intricate nature and creation, (the body) is a thing of beauty. Comfort involves acceptance."
- Be comfortable with your spirit. If you dwell on what you're not, you won't be comfortable with who you are. Let's face it... if we do not allow fear and anxiety to rule us, we can live happier and be more comfortable. Our long journey in life leads us to seek comfort, reassurance and love.
- Be comfortable with others. Oh, the fruit of love and companionship of others! If we're comfortable with them, (All of the others...) they will be more loving and happy with us.
- Acceptance = Comfort. As we move forward from living in a state of ill-health and dis-ease toward healing and health, we must accept more. Not settle for illness or anything else, but accept more. We will be happier if we accept and value who we are and what our lives entail.
Dr. Black says, "We are not totally mature unless we know the comfort for which we have been created and intended."
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
