Albert Einstein said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” That’s true in much of life, but perhaps even more so in the chronic illness community. The truth is that unless we are willing to put ourselves out there…to hope for a better future AND then move toward it, nothing will happen.

It is HARD to hope. Sometimes, it would seem that we hope and wish for a diagnosis, a treatment or even a cure. And each time we don’t achieve our goal, we can loose sight of a better tomorrow. It takes a ton of emotional resources for someone with chronic illness to hope. Because chronic illness, rare disease, invisible illness, undiagnosed illness and chronic pain each require most of a person’s daily emotional resources. Meaning, it’s just plain hard to deal with decreased capacity, whether it’s physical, emotional or intellectual! Our spirits get tired.

Yet good things happen when you dare to hope and then choose to act. A new, better physician can be found. A medication trial can begin. You CAN make it out of bed and have the pain melt away when you don’t think it can get any better. Your son or daughter can make friends despite their unique medical needs. You can make a difference, even if you can’t do everything you used to or even everything you want to. Action matters.

I’m not sure where you are at today – just hanging on by a thread or feeling full of personal power. In either case, do what you can to embrace hope. Embracing hope is the best thing you can do for yourself. For when you hope…you eventually act! Moving forward requires a vision for a better future AND action toward that future.

What can you do today that will stir up hope in you or move you to action?