Silver Linings of Life With a Chronic Illness

Six in 10 U.S. adults have a chronic disease and 4 in 10 live with 2 or more—an increase from 21.8% just two decades ago. What’s to blame for this concerning trend?

Our behaviors (junk food, sedentary lifestyles), our attitudes (psychological and emotional mindsets), environmental factors (such as chronic, sub-detectable levels of toxins), and genetic predisposition may all be blamed as potential factors. And of course, there’s always the medical term — unclear etiology, or, for all practical purposes, “luck-of-the-draw."

For many chronic conditions, whether following physical trauma, viral infection or otherwise, clear answers and cures are often difficult to find. If you find yourself in this position, how can you best adapt to pain, fatigue, or other limitations? Are there silver linings to be savored despite the challenges?

Health and wellness copywriter Declan Davey and I aim to offer a different take on life with chronic illness. Specifically, we’ll highlight the opportunity to develop key character strengths, put forward by pioneers of positive psychology, Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Christopher Peterson. The International Positive Psychology Association recognizes 24 character strengths which are categorized within 6 classes of virtues:

1. Wisdom and Knowledge
2. Courage
3. Humanity
4. Justice
5. Temperance
6. Transcendence

Both myself and Declan have had to manage chronic diseases — including career-ending vision limitations, CRPS (chronic pain syndrome), psoriatic arthritis, and devastating consequences of Lyme disease. Based on a review of the literature, substantiated through personal experiences, developing specific character strengths noted in this post is a worthwhile endeavor to change potential life-limiting situations into opportunities for psychological, emotional, and spiritual growth.

In general, knowing and utilizing your character strengths in unique ways is associated with increased happiness and decreased depression. In addition, specific character strengths may be particularly beneficial for helping you deal with chronic illness and also enrich your life in additional, surprising ways.

Positive Psychology and Chronic Illness

While this post focuses on seven character strengths that are particularly relevant and beneficial to those with chronic illness, there are several other character strengths that can also enhance your ability to live a healthy and satisfying life with a chronic illness.

An important facet of character strengths is that you don’t necessarily have to change your behavior to incorporate some of the strengths. It may only be a matter of acknowledging and appreciating (yourself) that the behavior in which you are currently engaged is utilizing these strengths. This realization will be enlightening, edifying, empowering, and energizing.

1. Creativity (Associated Virtue: Wisdom and Knowledge)

After Lyme disease left Declan housebound and unable to continue his training as a clinical psychologist, he knew he had to try to adapt to the testing circumstances. With no active income and rising medical bills, it wasn’t looking good. The process of reinvention didn’t happen overnight. Nonetheless, ideas started to bubble after reading entrepreneurial books such as The 4-Hour Work Week and The E-Myth Revisited, as well as researching online for remote jobs.

One thing led to another. Over the next few years, despite the unpredictable nature of his condition, Declan established an Amazon business, self-published a novel, and combined his professional and personal experience to become a leading wellness copywriter.

The takeaway here is that, although health setbacks can force you to have to restructure your life, they can also encourage you to come up with out-of-the-box solutions.

Note: Other character strengths such as Leadership, Love of Learning, and Perseverance could also be applied and lead to similar results.

Quote: “The strongest people I’ve met have not been given an easier life. They’ve learned to create strength and happiness from dark places.”—Kristen Butler

2. Perseverance (Associated Virtue: Courage)

If you’ve been fighting the effects of a long-term illness for some time, you’ll know all too well how grueling it can be, both physically and psychologically. Uncomfortable symptoms may knock you back from time to time (or every day) yet, somehow, you persevere.

Annoying, no doubt, but it can be reassuring to realize you’re stronger than you perhaps once thought. When unexpected challenges arise, as they inevitably will, you may look back and feel grateful for how you’ve been able to persist despite limitations, obstacles, and challenges. You know you have it in you to endure, perhaps more than many others. It isn’t about how many times we get knocked down. It’s about how many times we get back up.

Note: Other character strengths such as Hope and Zest, may be applied to accomplish similar goals.

Quote: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”—Martin Luther King Jr.

3. Kindness (Associated Virtue: Humanity)

Kindness can be considered in two forms; outward and inward.

Outward: An unexpected medical diagnosis emphasizes the fragility of life. This heightened sense of awareness and appreciation for health can lead to acts of kindness to others.

Inward: Let’s face it. People can often be harder on themselves than on anyone else in their life. Dealing with a disease for many years provides a platform to explore how to be more forgiving of your body. The need for rest may be critical to recuperate and feel well. Allowing yourself downtime, without associated guilt, may go a long way to promote self-care and long-term health.

Note: Other character strengths such as Gratitude, Hope, Forgiveness, Humility, Judgment, Prudence, Perspective, and Self-Regulation may be applied to yield similar results.

Quote: “Resting is not laziness, it’s medicine!”—Glenn Schweitzer

4. Hope (Associated Virtue: Transcendence)

Chronic illness may chip away at your spirit and result in chronic depression if you let it. Holding onto hope is a vital component of psychological and emotional recovery; offering a protective buffer from giving up on goals and allowing you to become future-driven and motivated.

Note: Other character strengths such as Perseverance, Zest, Spirituality, Perspective, and Humor may be applied to achieve similar results.

Quote: “When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is hope. Once we choose hope, everything is possible.” — Christopher Reeve

5. Leadership (Associated Virtue: Justice)

Complex medical issues can feel overwhelming and perhaps "too much to handle." It may be tempting to rely on your doctor, nurse, therapist, family member, or significant other to find solutions or solve the problems.

During the journey of chronic illness, there may be a moment where you discover that while trained professionals and loved ones may offer much-needed guidance, you have to be your own advocate. Leadership may entail saying, “No” to tasks or invitations, taking the initiative to design an exercise schedule, choosing a meal plan, making yourself aware of available, alternative therapies, etc.

The sense of responsibility and the realization that you have choices is empowering, energizing, and will positively affect your work and relationships.

Note: Character strengths of Bravery, Curiosity, and Hope may also be used to achieve similar results.

Quote: “I often say now I don’t have any choice whether I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices that I can make.”—Michael J. Fox

6. Self-Regulation (Associated Virtue: Temperance)

Whether your chronic condition is a mild inconvenience or leaves you bedridden, there will be some degree of physical limitation. Even for those that have minimal limitations, the psychological, emotional, and spiritual toll that may result can be worse than the physical issues.

One potential solution to this is incorporating the strength of Self-Regulation. Self-regulation is being disciplined and showing self-control; regulating your emotions, appetites, and what you do. Self-regulation is like a muscle that may be strengthened with practice. It can also provide a sense of balance and a sense of moderation to help lower harmful stress levels.

Note: Other character strengths such as Prudence, Teamwork, Perspective, Judgment, Humility, Honesty, and Forgiveness may also be applied similarly.

Quote: “If opening your eyes, or getting out of bed, or holding a spoon, or combing your hair is the daunting Mount Everest you climb today, that is okay.”—Carmen Ambrosio

7. Perspective (Associated Virtue: Wisdom and Knowledge)

Of all the classified character strengths in positive psychology, perspective may be the most valuable pillar that living with a chronic disease helps reinforce. Little things you once took for granted may now become significant and appreciated. After years of consistent joint pain, a day where the pain is at 40% instead of 80% can truly feel like a blessing.

Especially in terms of chronic illness, baseline parameters typically change. What was once extremely painful is now only moderately uncomfortable. Perspective essentially means seeing the big picture. Your activity level shouldn’t be compared to that of others (although you may use this to encourage your activity when you see inspiring stories of others) but rather to your realistic capabilities.

Note: Other character strengths such as Gratitude, Prudence, Honesty, Creativity, Fairness, Hope, Humility, Judgment, Kindness (to yourself), and Self-Regulation may also be applied in a similar fashion.

Quote: “Your perspective will either become your prison or your passport.”—Steven Furlick

In addition to becoming aware of and using these character strengths, incorporating mindfulness (aware, alert, non-judgmentally on a moment-to-moment basis) into your routine and behavior enhances your ability to fully utilize and benefit from those character strengths, decrease pain, enhance general life satisfaction, and improve resilience.

Be well. You have an amazing ability and awesome responsibility to improve your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health in the absence or presence of chronic illness.

Declan Davey is a top-ranking health and wellness copywriter on Google. He has a professional background in psychology and worked for the UK NHS as a cognitive behavioral therapist. He helps businesses and brands in the health sector with their tone-of-voice, marketing content, and audience engagement.