Recently, I watched a video of a speaker at the Fairfield Happiness Club. The # 1 idea presented was: I think appreciatively and gratefully. Yesterday, I visited a link to another gratitude video. I was struck by the narrators parting words which were something like “May gratefulness flow into blessing all around you.”
Gratitude is a very powerful attitude which opens us up to positive thinking and acknowledgement of our own strengths and the gifts in our lives. Taking time to experience and express gratitude can remind us to build on these aspects of our lives. With Heart Disease, especially initially, your days may be a bit of a roller coaster ride emotionally. Remembering gratitude, even in the midst of fear and challenge, can remind you of the broader picture of your life.
When you feel gratitude, it is likely that your body is in a calm state allowing you to recover from stress. Gratitude can also provide motivation, when you notice what you appreciate you can decide what you want more of in your life and then make a plan to get it. If you enjoy your grandchildren and want to be active with them you may look at your cardiac risk factors and decide to reduce them. Perhaps you have to lose some weight; appreciation for sharing with your grandchildren can motivate you to move a little more, take those extra steps and to stop after one serving of food. Gratitude is empowering.
Ask yourself, “What three things am I grateful for now? And how can I use this to motivate me to improve my health?”
Contact me to explore how your gratitude can go beyond feeling good to flowing into blessing all around you.
Dina 203 744-9683
By the way, the speaker was Rabbi Zelig Pliskin who wrote a book called Life is Now in which he sets forth 9 principles for living with joy.
Thank you, Dina, for sharing these hopeful words and the beautiful video. Indeed this day is our only gift!
I’d like to share something of my experience as a relatively young woman with heart disease. This life is certainly full of challenges, but it’s the one I have and I intend to get the most out of it!
I had a heart attack December 2010, one month after my 44th birthday. In the cath lab I was found to have 100% occlusion of the LAD. From onset of symptoms to arrival at the hospital was approximately one hour (time was required for stabilization at my home and then 25 minute drive to hospital in ambulance) and I was in the cath lab 23 minutes after arrival at the hospital. This was after 10 pm and the cardiologist and cath lab team were called in for me. I have seen some people become very attached to the medical slang “widowmaker” for a heart attack caused by blockage in this artery, or higher up in the left main coronary artery after their heart attack. I am living proof that this is survivable.
I am grateful for the excellent treatment I received and for my life.
I have become disabled. The damage from my heart attack was not that severe. I have an EF of 65%. My problems stem from processes that were no doubt in progress for many years and only became evident with my loss of reserve cardiac function while my heart was healing. I have coronary artery spasm, endothelial dysfunction, microvascular disease. This leaves me feeling extreme fatigue after seemingly minor exertion. I have chest pain and pressure frequently and use my nitrates throughout the day. Still, I am able to enjoy walks in the park with my husband and my dog. I am able to go to yoga classes and participate to the level I can manage that day, garnering wonderful, loving support from my teachers. I am grateful I can still do these things even if it is less often or with less intensity than I want to.
I have endured doubt and resentment from coworkers (before I took a leave of absence due to my disability). I have gotten mixed messages from doctors who are supposed to be helping me. I’ve tried medications that sometimes made me feel worse and didn’t help. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to try a variety of pharmacological approaches to attempt to ameliorate my symptoms. I am grateful to have worked for a large company that provided a good long term disability insurance and for the human resources professionals who helped me understand my options at work. I am grateful to have found doctors who believed me and have tried to help.
Now I can no longer afford my employer provided insurance. I am going to a doctor at a city clinic. I have no idea what the cardiologist they eventually provide will be like. I am grateful that there is at least some doctor I can go to and that this program provides all my meds with a small copay. I am grateful that I will be able to use the county hospital for a $30 copay and no charge for ambulance.
I am facing some rather formidable challenges, yet I am still able to learn and grow and intend to enjoy the time I have despite my limitations.
There is life with heart disease!
Thank you for sharing your experience. Your ability to acknowledge distress while being able to see the positive is inspiring. Seeing the opportunity in the challenge is a great skill to have and continually develop, and you seem to be able to do that.
Dina