This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on chronic illness as spiritual invitation.
Today I help people understand why their bodies are struggling. I love this work, but I never planned it when I was sick.
I couldn’t have. When you’re just trying to survive your symptoms, you can barely see past getting through the day, let alone think about what you want to do with your life.
But here’s the thing – when you finally feel your best, you actually get to choose what you want to do.
The Freedom Health Gives You
When I was sick, I had zero choices. Every single decision got filtered through “Can my body handle this today?” Every plan never got scheduled because I felt too awful. Every conversation was about my symptoms.
I mean, my symptoms were literally choosing my life for me.
But when my body finally began to work, and I’m talking actually worked, not just “good days” here and there, I could hear what was calling to me. Not because someone told me what I should do or because I had some grand plan. But because when all that fog finally cleared, I could think straight for the first time in what felt like ever.
Trusting What Emerges
I never planned to research environmental health. I was just trying to get my own life back, you know? But as I healed, one thing kept leading to another. One discovery would point me toward the next piece of the puzzle.
I started trusting that following my curiosity about all that I was learning would lead somewhere good, even when I had no idea where.
And it did. My desperate search for my own answers became the foundation for helping other people find theirs. Not because I forced it to happen that way. Because I just kept trusting what was unfolding.
When you’re actually healthy and clear, the right path has a way of showing up.
What Healing Really Gives You
Look, healing isn’t just about feeling better. Though that’s huge. It’s about getting the freedom to discover what actually wants to come through you, what you’re actually capable of achieving.
For me, it turned out to be this work helping others heal. For you? Could be art or starting a business or being present for your kids or building something or serving people in ways you can’t even imagine right now.
You don’t have to know what it is while you’re sick. Just trust that getting well will lead you somewhere good, something that might be so profound, you can’t even imagine it right now.
When your brain actually works, you can think about more than just survival. When you have real energy again, you can chase after things that light you up. When your nervous system isn’t constantly freaking out, you can trust what feels right.
Your Thing Is Out There
If you’re still in the middle of healing right now, you might be wondering if this struggle means anything. If you’ll ever feel healthy again. If any of all you’re doing is actually going somewhere.
It does. You will. It is. I promise.
Your healing journey isn’t just about getting your old life back. It’s about getting the freedom to choose what you actually want, and you might not even know what that is yet.
Whatever’s meant for you is waiting. But first you have to remove what’s causing you to not feel well. Fix the foundation. Repair the machinery. Get your body working so you can actually have time and presence to hear what’s calling you.
Taking care of your health isn’t selfish, by the way. This body we’ve been given, it’s precious. It’s preparation for whatever wants to emerge through you. It’s pure faith in action.
When you feel your best, you’ll know what to do. And you’ll actually have the energy to do it.
Regarding the symptoms that feel like they’re ending everything? They’re just clearing the way for what’s supposed to come next.
Trust your healing journey. Trust the process. Trust what wants to emerge.
This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on chronic illness as spiritual invitation. Read the full series:
- Part 1: When Illness Interrupts the Plan
- Part 2: Why Physical Healing Comes First
- Part 3: When You Feel Your Best, You Get to Choose (you are here)
[…] Part 1: When Illness Interrupts the Plan Part 2: Why Physical Healing Comes First (you are here) Part 3: When You Feel Your Best, You Get to Choose […]