Make the Shift from Sad to Glad

If you’re like me, there are days I slip into a major “Pity-Party,” when my negative thinking takes over and crowds my mind with all the unwelcome challenges of macular degeneration. We all have those days, right? That’s when I have to sit myself down and pull out all the valuable tools I’ve accumulated, many from supportive the community right here at MacularDegeneration.net.

The impacts of vision loss

It’s hard not to think about macular degeneration when you experience it most waking hours of the day. You can’t see the clock and have to get closer. The smaller print can’t be read without a magnifying glass. Entering a credit card number for your next purchase requires extra caution. More light is needed to find a lost item. Driving at night becomes a hazard. However, I have learned, there is another way to see this!

We are more than our physical sight

There are 3 levels - physical, emotional & spiritual - that we all possess. Why are we focusing entirely on one, the physical? Even at the physical level, sight is only one of our five senses. We also have hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

We haven’t lost EVERYTHING, although some days I do feel overwhelmed thinking about losing my central vision. But those days are getting less frequent and shorter. This critical shift in my mind didn’t happen overnight and not without practice. In hindsight, it was well worth the time and effort.

Today I choose to focus less on my physical sight challenges and more on my internal vision. I CAN & WILL concentrate on shifting my energy to further develop emotionally and spiritually, plus find other physical activities I can still enjoy. The different ways to make that shift are endless but here are seven ways to get started that have helped me that may help you, too.

7 Ways to make the shift

1. Volunteer Helping others is a sure-fire way to take the attention off personal challenges.
2. Find a Worthwhile Distraction Do something new or different. But not just any distraction will do - make it a worthwhile, valuable distraction. For instance, listening to music, connecting with a friend, or meditating would certainly add value and take your mind off your worries, however, distracting and comforting yourself with excessive food or alcohol may not be a good distraction to choose. That kind of distraction can create more problems than it solves - Choose your distractions wisely!
3. Discover a new hobby New doors open to possibilities when we’re open and willing.
4. Make positive social connections Join a new group, meet new people, and get more involved!
5. Practice gratitude Start a daily Gratitude Journal and set positive intentions every morning.
6. Incorporate mindfulness Take time to smell the roses and become more consciously aware.
7. Develop a daily meditation [ractice Start with a 5-minute, guided meditation for peace of mind. It’s a terrific, calm way to start the day and there are many free websites to get started. Check out my article: "Reduce Macular Degeneration Worry With Meditation" to learn more about this.

Getting over myself and obsessing less

Using these seven practices above helped me stop the obsession and worry about losing my sight and gave me numerous ways to strengthen my inner vision.

There IS a difference between physical sight and inner vision. I still have good inner vision. In fact, it’s getting better every day! Making this shift from sad to glad has made a big difference in my life and to those around me. I offer them for you to ponder when you’re having a bad day and hope they help you as much as they have helped me.

We are all here to help and support one another. What are you doing that helps you take your mind off AMD? We would love to hear from you!