Turning Straw Into Gold

Mindfulness

You Don’t Need to Be Meditating to Practice Mindfulness

Toni Bernhard J.D. on March 3, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what's happening in the present moment. You can do it anywhere—lying down, sitting, even standing in line

A Personal Perspective: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what's happening in the present moment. You can do it anywhere—lying down, sitting, even standing in line

Health

My Wishes for the Chronically Ill in 2022

Toni Bernhard J.D. on January 31, 2022

A Personal Perspective: I see no higher purpose in life than to use what’s in your power to be kind and helpful and to be at peace with taking the rest as it happens.

A Personal Perspective: I see no higher purpose in life than to use what’s in your power to be kind and helpful and to be at peace with taking the rest as it happens.

Friends

How a Holiday Letter From the Chronically Ill Might Read

Toni Bernhard J.D. on December 17, 2021

I’ve received several holiday cards from family and friends that include a letter catching me up their news from the past year. My holiday letter would read quite differently.

I’ve received several holiday cards from family and friends that include a letter catching me up their news from the past year. My holiday letter would read quite differently.

Gratitude

What the Pandemic Taught Me to Appreciate

Toni Bernhard J.D. on November 23, 2021

Life seemed to change for the worse when the pandemic hit but, upon reflection, here are four things I’ve learned to be thankful for.

Life seemed to change for the worse when the pandemic hit but, upon reflection, here are four things I’ve learned to be thankful for.

Stress

10 Stressful Thinking Patterns, and How to Reverse Them

Toni Bernhard J.D. on November 2, 2021

I often shake my head in amazement at the crazy stuff that goes on in my mind. I’ll say to myself: “This mind can be so unreasonable! So outrageous!"

I often shake my head in amazement at the crazy stuff that goes on in my mind. I’ll say to myself: “This mind can be so unreasonable! So outrageous!"

Stress

5 Habits of Mind That Tend to Make Life Harder

Toni Bernhard J.D. on September 29, 2021

Whenever you’re feeling stressed and uneasy, it’s usually because you’re caught in the web of one or more of these unskillful habits of mind.

Whenever you’re feeling stressed and uneasy, it’s usually because you’re caught in the web of one or more of these unskillful habits of mind.

Happiness

The Perils of Tying Happiness to Getting Your Way

Toni Bernhard J.D. on August 24, 2021

The belief that the key to happiness is getting our way sets us up for dissatisfaction with our lives. One reason for this is that most of our desires go unfulfilled.

The belief that the key to happiness is getting our way sets us up for dissatisfaction with our lives. One reason for this is that most of our desires go unfulfilled.

Stress

4 Things the Chronically Ill Wish Others Understood

Toni Bernhard J.D. on August 5, 2021

One of the difficulties of having chronic illness or pain is that the people in our lives don’t understand what we’re going through.

One of the difficulties of having chronic illness or pain is that the people in our lives don’t understand what we’re going through.

Chronic Pain

20 Tips From 20 Years Sick: Tips 11 to 20

Toni Bernhard J.D. on June 25, 2021

When I started writing this blog in 2011, I wrote “10 Tips from 10 Years Sick." I assumed that, by 2021, I'd have recovered from what seemed to be a routine virus.

When I started writing this blog in 2011, I wrote “10 Tips from 10 Years Sick." I assumed that, by 2021, I'd have recovered from what seemed to be a routine virus.

Chronic Pain

20 Tips: Making the Best of 20 Years of Chronic Pain and Illness

Toni Bernhard J.D. on May 27, 2021

Ten years ago, I posted “10 Tips from 10 Years Sick” but thought that, by 2021, I’d have recovered from what appeared to be a routine viral infection.

Ten years ago, I posted “10 Tips from 10 Years Sick” but thought that, by 2021, I’d have recovered from what appeared to be a routine viral infection.

Chronic Pain

5 Reasons Why Chronic Pain and Illness Are Energy Drains

Toni Bernhard J.D. on April 28, 2021

The chronically ill spend a good part of most days contemplating this kind of thing: “If I do this, then I can’t do that.”

The chronically ill spend a good part of most days contemplating this kind of thing: “If I do this, then I can’t do that.”

Psychology

Marking 10 Years at Psychology Today

Toni Bernhard J.D. on March 25, 2021

It’s hard for me to believe, but this is my 271st piece. I thought I’d celebrate 10 years at Psychology Today by sharing some of my personal favorites.

It’s hard for me to believe, but this is my 271st piece. I thought I’d celebrate 10 years at Psychology Today by sharing some of my personal favorites.

Chronic Pain

5 Seldom-Recognized Consequences of Living With Chronic Pain

Toni Bernhard J.D. on February 11, 2021

Because these little-understood consequences of chronic pain are currently taking center stage in my life, I’m hoping to raise awareness about them.

Because these little-understood consequences of chronic pain are currently taking center stage in my life, I’m hoping to raise awareness about them.

Health

2021 New Year’s Reflections Inspired by Four Haiku Poems

Toni Bernhard J.D. on January 9, 2021

I hope you’ll take the time to think about the good things that happened in 2020. The good is always there; sometimes we have to stop and consciously call it to mind.

I hope you’ll take the time to think about the good things that happened in 2020. The good is always there; sometimes we have to stop and consciously call it to mind.

Loneliness

3 Ways to Cope With Isolation in This Unique Holiday Season

Toni Bernhard J.D. on December 15, 2020

The next few weeks, many of us will be facing isolation and loneliness due to the need to stay safe during the pandemic. Here's some help easing emotional pain during the holidays.

The next few weeks, many of us will be facing isolation and loneliness due to the need to stay safe during the pandemic. Here's some help easing emotional pain during the holidays.

Gratitude

Thanksgiving 2020: Finding Gratitude Despite the Pandemic

Toni Bernhard J.D. on November 24, 2020

If gratitude is hard for you to find this difficult Thanksgiving, look around and see if you can find one or two small things that might help you feel good about your life as is.

If gratitude is hard for you to find this difficult Thanksgiving, look around and see if you can find one or two small things that might help you feel good about your life as is.

Cognition

Creating a Fulfilling Life for Your Chronically Ill Child

Toni Bernhard J.D. on November 10, 2020

When children feel healthy, there are so many activities and events they can plan or attend. However, if they are chronically ill, it’s a different world, with a new set of rules.

When children feel healthy, there are so many activities and events they can plan or attend. However, if they are chronically ill, it’s a different world, with a new set of rules.

Chronic Pain

6 Ways to Handle the Stigma of Chronic Pain and Illness

Toni Bernhard J.D. on October 9, 2020

This culture does a poor job of educating people about chronic pain and illness. They're seen as aberrations instead of natural aspects of the human condition.

This culture does a poor job of educating people about chronic pain and illness. They're seen as aberrations instead of natural aspects of the human condition.

Self-Talk

What to Do When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn—as It Just Has

Toni Bernhard J.D. on September 3, 2020

We’re in the midst of a change in our lives that’s so profound, none of us could have imagined it a year ago.

We’re in the midst of a change in our lives that’s so profound, none of us could have imagined it a year ago.

Chronic Pain

10 Challenges Faced by Those With Chronic Pain and Illness

Toni Bernhard J.D. on July 28, 2020

Be careful not to glorify the past by thinking that before chronic illness (or this pandemic), you could do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted. No one can.

Be careful not to glorify the past by thinking that before chronic illness (or this pandemic), you could do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted. No one can.