A Little MS with a Little MSW

Picture it: you are in the throes of a cardiovascular exercise routine, convinced that you are one gasp away from a major cardiac event and all you can think is ‘when is this going to be over?!’ Your heart has seemingly lost interest in remaining within the confines of your chest and the sweat beads are so ample and the face so rosy that you appear to be fresh from a scalding hot shower.

It is only after your heartbeat returns to normal, the redness has diffused, and the sweat beads have dried that you allow yourself to bask in the victory of Team Neurotransmitters that have united to boost your mood and improve your sense of well-being. Is being thankful after the fact just as good as being thankful in the moment? Surely, some gratefulness is better than none at all, but can we train ourselves to be thankful as we go, not only after we’ve gone?

We can. The process is called reframing, and it takes practice. When ‘I have to’ becomes ‘I get to’ a chore becomes a privilege. Thoughts can be accepted as is or they can be grasped lightly and spun in a more positive-facing direction. Mentally recording a loop of positive affirmations that can be recalled and played during strenuous activity can be helpful.

Allow your mind to bask in the truths of such statements as ‘I am alive,’ ‘I am healthy,’ ‘I am strong,’ ‘I am able.’ Remind yourself that your body has the ability to self-regulate and that your heart rate and breathing will return to normal, that you have access to hydration and a comfy couch to spread out on after the fact.

When the going gets tough, so does the gratitude. But tough does not equal impossible and your negative thoughts are not the boss. You can allow them to come over and you can even politely listen as they say their piece, but you do not have to invite them to stay. Invite them to exit through the door from which they entered.

Remember what I said about grasping your thoughts and lightly spinning them? Sometimes, you might have to nudge them. Maybe, even, aggressively push them, to the rhythm of your pounding heart. When we learn that we have the ability to bench press our negative thoughts, they become our little bitch. And while I don’t ordinarily condone violence, I am a huge proponent of mental fortitude and the gratitude it brings.