Balancing Optimism and Realism
Written by Ann Pietrangelo on December 8th, 2008 in Emotional Issues, Linked Articles.
The issue of optimism and keeping a positive state of mind comes up often in discussions of multiple sclerosis, and it always makes me cringe. Gives me a knot right in my stomach.
I have a very positive attitude about my MS, but I am also a realist. I am not prone to flights of fancy that I can control this disease through positive thoughts. I do believe that my positive thinking makes living with MS more tolerable by a long shot.
Somehow, I seldom manage to make my point. Well-intentioned people continue to barrage me and other MS patients with positive thinking theories, not realizing the burden they place on us. Are we to feel responsible for our bad days… for our relapses? Is this thing called MS merely a state of mind? Must we be riddled with thoughts of guilt and inadequacy in addition to MS? I think not.
Read: Optimism and Realism… In Perfect Balance
