Weekly recovery guidance - ME/CFS and related illnesses
- s-porter4
- Aug 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Weekly inspirational quotes, guidance & tips to support recovery from ME/CFS, Long Covid, Fibromyalgia and related illnesses.
Week 13 - 3/8/2025 (Post 15)
What is your 'Why'?
This might sound like a very strange question, but why do you actually want to get well? What is your purpose? You might have some more obvious answers like;
To support my family again.
To ensure that we are financially secure.
To get back to work.
To have the energy to be able to do the things that I used to do.
So that I no longer feel this level of pain and fatigue.
When I first start working with clients I often ask this question. A common response is that they want their old life back, but after reflecting and unpicking this they often find that this is not actually true.
They might want to change habits that have not served them such as being too intense, people pleasing, perfectionism and being too self critical. They often talk about wanting to do a different job, to try new things and just live their lives in a different way. In plain terms, they often find that they don't actually want their old lives back.
When people do recover they frequently talk about experiencing a life that surpasses their previous life. They wouldn't go back!
My 'why' was an important part of my recovery. I wanted something that was tangible and measurable and something that gave me joy. I have always loved being outdoors. I love running, cycling, being in nature and having a beer in a pub garden, but nothing gives me more pleasure than walking. Ever since I was very young it is something that has always given me a huge amount of satisfaction. When I walk, I feel at peace, calm and my whole world slows down. When I first became bedbound, the pain of not being able to walk was at times overwhelming.
I remember a conversation with my wife around the 'why'. We both agreed that walking would become that 'why'. It started as a challenge to be able to walk to the bathroom and from there it moved to be able to walk downstairs. Is was then about the number of steps that I could do in a day. After this slow and sustained progress and some time later, I vividly remember my wife would drive out for 10 about miles into the countryside. We would then walk for 2 minutes, maybe sit for a little while and then she would drive us the 10 miles back! This approach carried on until I was able to walk many thousand steps in a day.
My point here is about the importance of having clear goals and aspirations, linked to things that provide you with joy. Something that gives you that deep desire to get well, a sense of purpose. It might initially seem like a 'pipe dream', but you take it step by step, day after day. You reflect on progress made. This gives you hope and a sense of achievement.
So, what is your why? Why do you need to get well? What is going to give you that motivation to get up every day and do whatever is required to have the life that you desire. I can promise that it won't be easy and there will be so many times when you want to give up, but you keep going because the prize is worth every bit of the pain you experience. This will be your 'finest hour'.
Keep going and remember
"If it's going to be, then it is up to me!"
Best wishes
Stuart
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