The relatively simply procedure, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is proven to save countless lives of people suffering cardiac arrest. All basic first aid courses feature CPR as the go to when a victim’s pulse stops and the techniques are constantly being updated to ensure maximum efficacy.
CPR is only used in desperate situations, as a life saving measure. Survivors owe their very existence to their rescuer(s) even though they often face a tender recovery from sternum and rib fractures. A tiny price to pay.
Unlike Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation that can only be administered by someone else, the Chronic Illness warrior must apply their own customised version of emotional CPR on a daily basis to maintain their quality of life.
Similarly to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, a gentle massage won’t do. You have to push hard and be prepared to cause some structural damage. A meaningful, productive and happy life depends on it.
It takes a lot of effort to thrive with a chronic condition. Courage, determination, self-belief, motivation, acceptance, desire, adaptability, positive attitude, discipline and patience to mention a few necessary qualities.
Then we must learn new skills like planning, goal setting, stress management strategies, pain management, communication, exercise/nutrition/medication programs, financial management, mindfulness and problem-solving.
We also need to cultivate a healthy support network, master positive self-talk, establish boundaries and develop contingencies.
What we need is a simple recipe to follow as we tackle each of these tasks, that will ensure we stay focused and empowered.
The secret is in our emotional CPR: Curiosity, Passion and Resilience.
Curiosity
§ Know your enemy – find out all about your condition(s)
§ Move on only when you are comfortable with your diagnosis and treatment
§ Acknowledge what you can’t do – demand proof
§ Discover what you can do – test your imagination
§ Question everything – refute negatives and validate positives
§ How will success feel, look, sound, taste and smell?
Passion
§ Desire to thrive, not just survive
§ Belief – if you want it badly enough you will get it
§ Clarity of thought and purpose
§ Infect your support network with enthusiasm, optimism and confidence
§ Strive for excellence– push past mediocrity
§ Motivation
Resilience
§ Build emotional and mental strength – no pain, no gain
§ Personal and professional growth – time to thrive
§ Adaptability – however difficult, all lessons learned are good
§ Love it when a plan comes together
§ Focus on the end goal – visualise victory for you and your support crew
The key ingredients to success, Curiosity, Passion and Resilience are often referred to as “soft skills” although there’s nothing soft about them. They are non-technical skills which means there’s no university degree course available to teach them. They are traits that are present to varying degrees innately and can be nurtured and strengthened through practice and experience.
The trick is to harness these internal CPR qualities and inject them into each task we perform on our thriving with chronic disease journey. The first step in our quest is to accept the condition and manage symptoms. Emotional CPR questions may include:
C: Have you accepted your diagnosis - no more questions?
P: Are you ready to move forward – write your own prognosis?
R: Can you push through pain and frustration – stay goal focused?
Applying this self-questioning technique to every aspect of our physical, mental and emotional health as well as purpose and fulfilment will evoke honest and motivating responses that can be measured as we progress.
Curiosity, Passion and Resilience are the building blocks of a positive mindset, which as we know, is everything.