Once upon a time, a little drawing changed my life! On this episode I describe the little picture and what efforts I have made to make each "tomorrow" in my life a little more do-able! If you want to see the little picture, go to my website at http://www.personalthoughttrainer.com/ and opt-in to my emails and on Jan 19th, you'll get the email with the little doodle drawing at the very top!

Today I am sharing thoughts on pain because I know we all have that in common. I wanted to share them with you in case the insights also relieve some of your emotional burden as you live with chronic illness. Books I talk about in this episode are:

• Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
• Finding Freedom in Illness by Peter Fernando
• Why Is This Happening to Me? by Wayne Monbleau

We are all-or-nothing thinkers! (Hint: this is not helpful!) And, we focus on goals at the start of the year and NOT the middle or end of the year. Lastly, we jump off that goal train when the first few obstacles show up. Let's turn the tide with 3 small tweaks for a successful goal year. 2021 is our year!

If only we DIDN'T live in a world with people with brains that judge us as lazy or flakey. If only we DID live in a world where everyone just UNDERSTOOD all things autoimmune living, symptoms, and flare ups, we could be happy…yes? In this episode I dive into the 3 reasons it is disempowering to spend so much emotional energy on others who judge us as lazy. And I give suggestions of how to dig a new perspective out of the raw materials we face in our interactions with others. Enjoy!

Do you have a complicated history or relationship with medications? Most of us with autoiummune illness do. We appreciate them and are tormented by them. And sometimes the pesky side effects threaten to do us in! Listen in for some validation!

Enjoy this final interview segment with Hailey. I enjoy how she shares her thoughts on medication vs dietary interventions, gaining compassion, and many other relevant topics. We know your journey is unique, but if you want to feel some solidarity and inspiration, listen in!

We have another guest interview today, and this one is with an entrepreneur and recent collegiate athlete who was diagnosed at age 15. Enjoy Hailey's buoyant personality and grit as much as you learn from her acceptance and flexibility with her flare ups.

This episode addresses what it's like to have an illness where sometimes you feel things are going your way and sometimes you are cancelling plans right and left. Navigating this with resilience is a journey; listen to find out more.

Have you considered stepping into your power as someone with illness? Listen to the 5 min inspiration on loving ALL parts of you.

Today I am sharing a scale I learned about that helps me strive to live a well-balanced version of getting things done and practicing self-care. Both are needed, but too much of either could be detrimental as well. Listen in and find your best range of self-care and productivity on the scale!