Some of the challenges we face cannot be easily "fixed" or remedied because of their complexity and the associated social, economic and health entanglements. So, what can we do?
As a hospice/end-of-life physician and medical oncologist, I often ask patients how they deal with some of these very difficult problems. A couple of themes emerge in their responses:
A sense of meaning and purpose. This is the reason you get up in the morning. It may be as simple as taking care of a loved one or pet.
A supportive community. In other words, feeling a connection to others. This is your family in the broadest sense, including that beloved dog or cat.
A focus on moving forward. Often expressed as, "Okay, I am not happy about what happened, so I need to make the best of this predicament." In other words, focusing on what you can learn from an experience and moving on.
Living in the moment. Embracing today and not looking too far down the road. After all, none of us can predict the future.
These tactics certainly seem to work for many patients. Are there other techniques that have helped you? Please share them with us.
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