If you don’t think things can change in an instant, then you’ve never sat in a doctor’s office and heard the words “I’m sorry to tell you, but …”. Those who have experienced the bad news from the doctor understand from the bottom of their soul that life is an illusion and that if you blink it can change before your eyes. Have you ever played the staring game? The game where you look at someone else and the first to blink loses?
That is the experience of those who have been diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening illness. It’s as if you’ve been staring fate in the face and you’re the first to blink. In that moment, the life you knew has been altered. Your understanding of life as a healthy person is gone forever. Even if you recover, the certainty you once lived your life with is gone forever.
Unfortunately, the media teaches us that we can create change in the blink of an eye or with a flick of the nose. Do you remember the show “I Dream of Jeannie”? Your wish was an order from Jeannie and in the blink of an eye she could grant you any wish. If overcoming illness were that simple, the impact of ill health would not be devastating. Having the power to improve our health, with a minimum of energy or effort, would be a dream come true.
Think of someone you know who has been in a car accident. They will often say that they turned their heads for a moment and when they looked up it was too late to stop, the accident was inevitable. When he was diagnosed with a disease, he did not look away, but the body deviated for a moment from its healthy state. Once the detour has occurred, it is difficult to get the body back on track without the help of medical professionals.
The unfortunate aspect of this “blink” analogy is that what took an instant to happen takes time, effort, and a lot of energy to heal. It requires you to shift from the idea of ”blinking” for change, to concentrating, committing, and exhibiting determination evidenced by your adherence to the treatment plan. The road to recovery is not about instant change, but about gradual improvement or keeping progression in check.
It is not uncommon for those who have received a diagnosis to become a little shy in the world. They begin to experience the anxiety that accompanies diagnosis and how quickly they went from being a healthy individual to a patient. There is an ongoing fear of waiting for the other shoe to drop in all other aspects of their lives. Unfortunately, since the disease has a domino effect, fear can be realized in terms of economic and social challenges.
If you had symptoms for a day or a year before diagnosis; The doctor’s words are often a surprise and are truly life changing. The idea that life can change in an instant seemed impossible until you experienced that shock firsthand. Health requires your full attention and stamina to persevere on this unexpected journey. The hope is that experiencing how life changes in the “blink of an eye” opens you up to daily opportunities for joy. Beauty and opportunity are around every corner if you give yourself the gift of mindfulness. Blink your way to health and healing while staying open to possibility.
