As we live our lives, whether we have chronic pain or not, it’s easy to fall into a “surviving and fixing” mind-set. You go along and deal with any problems in a reactive way. When was the last time you thought about living your life based on a vision instead of just getting by?

Running your life should be like running a business. While this may seem impossible in the context of chronic pain, there’s no time when it’s more vital. There are multiple components in your life that have to come together in order for it to be successful. Although the variables are different from a business, the principles are the same. You must first have an idea of where you are, where you want to go, and how you are going to accomplish it.  Then, you have to develop the tools necessary to get there. Two of the basic tools are being organized and having good communication skills.

The other concept I will introduce you to is that of creating new neurological pathways. These will differ from those focused on dealing with your chronic pain.  With patients in chronic pain, a high percent if not the majority of their thinking processes on a given day revolve around how to deal with their pain.  As you turn your thoughts in a different direction, new more functional pathways are formed and the pain pathways become less useful.  This is not “positive thinking.”  It is truly creating a different plan for your life with or without the pain.

One of the more common phrases I hear from my patients is that, “I just want my life back.”  Then take it back.  I cannot give it to you.  It is yours for the taking.

You need a plan. Here’s a template that I use myself.

BF