Free Advice...

I often have to remind myself of the lessons I've learned from experiencing chronic physical pain. Initially, my diagnosis made me very angry--I couldn't accept the reality of a chronic physical illness at my young age. I fought the reality of an illness ruling my life. When the pain is extreme, it's difficult to accept. But I've learned that it's transformative to be at peace with the pain. Instead of bracing myself against an inevitable struggle, I can open myself up to the inevitable and accept the pain.

In his book, When You're Falling, Dive, Mark Matousek teaches, "When we attatch ourselves to a single outcome, it's easy to become hope's hostage... we risk spending our time consumed by longing...unhappy with what life has chosen to give us. Buddhism warns against too much clinging to desired outcomes we cannot control." (p.76) In order to conquer uncertainty and pain we have to really accept it as a reality of our lives. This isn't simple--it takes a certain kind of wisdom to accept all the crap life throws at you, but once you do, the pain isn't as consuming.