Don’t Waste Energy Stressing Over Things That Didn’t Work in Your Favor

During a recent paddleboarding outing, my boyfriend and I were returning to the boat ramp, only minutes away, when I hit a rapid current that sent me back some 50 feet. I was infuriated. Paddling for a couple of hours and then working upstream to get back to the launch spot already had my spirits low.

If you have myasthenia gravis (MG), you know how difficult and painful movements can be when weakness kicks in. Every stroke against the current was demanding. So although a 50-foot reverse was not that far relative to how far we had gone that day, it upset me because it reminded me how life often feels living with a rare chronic disease.

We only have so much energy

Not everything works in our favor. Stop dedicating energy and mental resilience to things that are unsettling and out of our control. What is in our control, however, is how we respond when things don't go how we would like. We must practice learning to process, accept, and move on.

We only have so much energy. I want to use my energy to keep moving forward rather than exert mental patience and tolerance on things such as setbacks and bumps in the road.

The spoon theory

Think about it in regards to the spoon theory for those with illnesses. We have a limited amount of spoons that represent the energy we have available each day. Why waste precious spoons directing our thoughts towards things out of our control?

When challenging tasks or problems present themselves, we can take "tiny bites" with our spoons. Of course, it is unrealistic to say "who cares" when things go wrong or ruffle our feathers. We all care and have emotions. For some, it can be more of an effort to shift our minds away from stress and frustration. But we can prevent processing and accepting our emotions from taking up too much energy to the point where it stops progression.

Physical challenges with MG

Just because we foresee challenges ahead does not mean that we should stop living our lives.

With myasthenia gravis, we can hit a max and our bodies quit on us while conquering physical endeavors. Whether an outdoor sport, going to the gym, walking, cleaning the house, or driving, we can't always function how we desire.

That inability to function can still be discouraging, even if it is expected. There will be days when we can't produce our average. Our progress will go through cycles where it stalls or relapses. We may experience injuries. Think of every effort you make to get out and physically push your body as nothing but self-care and worth the energy used.

Stressful interactions with others>

Many of us are familiar with closed-minded, arrogant individuals who hop on the opportunity to share their unsolicited opinions. It may be tough not to let those people get under your skin - but reserve that energy.

It may not feel like you are utilizing energy when you are mentally heated, but it is draining. Stress also has the potential to trigger flare-ups of MG symptoms. Being distracted also blocks any room for productivity and positive focus.¹

Work and project delays

When working on a project for your job or hobby, you typically have something in mind for the finished product and ideally, a timeline. But issues, delays, and troubleshooting arise that may destroy your momentum and motivation for finishing.

Quitting on a project can bring up feelings of failure - and others may be relying on us. Dwelling on problems in our minds can make them feel more daunting than they are. In my experience, accepting that frustration and then dedicating energy to figuring things out step by step is easier on my minds and gets me closer to my goals.

Setbacks with healthcare decisions

Deciding on healthcare professionals, different treatment options, and medical procedures is scary. Unfortunately, not everything a doctor advises or every health decision we make leads to improvement. Occasionally, decisions lead to adverse side effects, hospitalizations, rethinking treatment regimens, and just leave us feeling like we are back at square one.

Staying in the best health we can is exhausting and only sometimes feels like it pays off. But things going opposite what we wish is part of the chronic illness journey if we want to take control of our health. It builds resilience that we can benefit from in many aspects of life.

Redirect your focus

Some emotions, periods of stress or grief, and challenges may last for extensive and unknown periods. Despite how much they may be weighing on us, we must try to take action steps in favor of ourselves.

Process and redirect your focus when things go awry. Choose the response that will benefit you, your time, mentality, and energy.