When Linda was advised to carry out research, breathe, practice mindfulness and adjust what she was eating by her neurologist - all piled on as a last resort - she felt angry!
Identifying her needs took a while.
Empowering herself to take some ownership and recognise she had a part to play in her own health was a journey that Linda shares with us here in this episode.
Along the way, Linda was encouraged to reconnect with the truth of who she was - the version of Linda she was before devastating illness took hold.
She terms it that she accidentally fell into illness from which point she then had to learn how to be well.
What I love most is that Linda shares with us how she learnt to do this from her bed. Using nothing but her smart phone and some middle of the night lightbulb moments.
The true cost?
It cost her her bedbound days and the energy she had previously spent on being the version of Linda she thought she should be. Utilising this energy she had previously exhausted on everyone and everything else on a new set of practices instead.
A short morning routine that enabled Linda to feel safe, reconnect with what she loved, build in new practices never known to her before such as setting boundaries, letting go of perfection, saying no and finding balance. Overcoming the sense of guilt and shame she felt and feeling the added weight of being a burden along the way.
In this 31 minute episode Linda teaches us how she struck that balance based on connecting with how she felt in her body. Creating little pockets of space within her day that aligned with what it was she truly wanted; to get well.
Linda shares so much insight that goes into more than what recovery looks like and what I am only recently learning to describe as an evolution. An evolution of her being. Creating a new way of seeing. Carving out a new way of showing up for herself, her family and now for so many of us as she shares differing aspects of her story, her research and all supporting practices online.
Even though each of our journeys are unique when it comes to this complex and misunderstood disease, it’s this evolutionary aspect of her journey that I share so many similarities with.
What aspect of Linda’s journey do you resonate with the most?
And Linda - just so you know:
Sharing is caring
I know so many of us have been told that we should keep our pain and suffering to ourselves. Lock down how we are really feeling and keep it behind closed doors. No matter the cost.
What is becoming clear as I speak individually with each of you is that we have kept quiet for so long and the need to speak out is becoming so great that we will no longer be silenced. No matter the cost.
On this flip side, we are discovering shared experiences, common denominators, learning from one another and realising we are anything but alone.
Please share your insights, reflections and inspired ideas in the comments below as well as this post, video and audio with fellow migraine and chronic illness warriors online and in real life.
Connect with Linda
Linda and me first came into contact via Linked In.
She is not just the author of The Mindful Migraine, but here, she has created a phenomenal resource. All born out of a healing mandala and some repeated encouragement from her neurologist.
Take a look at this piece that Linda wrote on creating a gentler language around healing to get you started, as it also ties in with where we end our discussions.
If you were to ask Linda anything about her journey, what would you most want to know?
Catch up on previous episodes
Bringing in the support with Eva Lydon
Moving beyond migraine with Lisa Bolin
Blending happiness and migraine with Erin Peterson
Tears and truths with Kerry Spalding
Send me a message if you want to get in on the action - come aboard and let’s tell your story, your way.
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