The day before the diagnosis, you were just you. Then the diagnosis comes, and it’s like you woke up in an alternate universe. Suddenly, because someone put a name to what you’ve been experiencing, you are no longer healthy; you are, in fact, sick. And even if you’d been feeling unwell, you still feel sucker-punched after getting this news.

You feel like your health fell apart while you were sleeping. But, truth be told, your health had actually been deteriorating for some time. If you look back over the past weeks, months, and years, you see a trail of un-wellness stretching behind you. And if you’re like me, you may even see all the seemingly innocent, unconscious habits that brought on a season of poor health.

This was my situation last year when my thyroid decided to retire at the ripe old age of 36 and my adrenals threw in the towel a few months later. As I talked with my doctor, I realized that my first foray into un-wellness happened fourteen years prior, through no provocation of my own. Nevertheless, I’d made things worse by my choices and habits.

But, if poor choices and bad habits had helped make me sick, couldn’t wise choices and healthy habits help me heal?

Seems logical. And so, to this end, I’ve been working on changing my attitude, making smart choices and transforming my habits so that I can feel better and live up to the purpose God has for me.

But it hasn’t been easy, girlfriend.

I’ve fallen off the wagon many times. I think the wagon has even run over me once or twice. But with the wisdom and guidance of my doctor, I’ve learned that I didn’t get to this place overnight -- and I’m not going to get out of it overnight either.

My journey to good health is going to take time. And it’s going to take new habits, both in how I think and in what I do. With that in mind, I've started to practice three things. 

The first is to ask God. Not “Why me, God?” but rather “What do you want me to learn during this?” God is gracious to always reveal what His purpose is for me when I ask.

Second, I now reflect. I wound up with fried adrenals because I always said “yes” to everything and then drowned my stress in Diet Coke. Now when faced with the pressure to instantly consent, I try to pause and figure out why I feel the need to say “yes” to that request…or why I feel like I need a Diet Coke.

Finally, I remember to be kind to myself. This goes for all of us. If you are tired, rest. The laundry will still be there tomorrow. Don’t give yourself a guilt trip if you fall down on your path to wellness; just get up and keep going. Make the next right decision.

God created us to thrive. Our bodies are miraculous things. Though our bodies aren’t perfect and illness-free like the ones we will one day inherit, we each have the ability to live well on earth. We just have to practice the right habits daily.

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2)

In what habit (like my Diet Coke ‘addiction’) do you drown your stress, fear or sadness? How can you change that habit from unhealthy to healthy? How can you show yourself kindness today?