Are you selling yourself short? I just read an article about Jeremy Lin, a Harvard graduate who is playing basketball for the New York Knicks. The article discusses 10 lessons for success, based on Jeremy’s experiences. I especially like lesson #5: Don’t overlook talent that might exist around you today on your team.
This got me thinking about how every person who lives with diabetes has strengths (and weaknesses, but let’s focus on strengths for now) or talents. Perhaps someone is a good listener or a talented musician. Others are good at math or sports or something else completely.
Perhaps it’s time to identify your diabetes talents. Forget what you stink at and get in touch with what you do well. Do you always remember to check your blood glucose or take your meds? Do you exercise every day or make healthy eating choices? Maybe you are good at managing stress. Whatever it is, focus on that and then determine how you can maximize that skill(s) and make it work for you in the big picture.
Stop beating yourself up for the things you don’t do or don’t do well and start praising yourself for the healthy choices you make each day. The more you focus on the positive, the more positive you are likely to feel and the more positive your outcomes are likely to be.
The second part of the lesson is the talent on your team. Hopefully you have an amazing diabetes care team (if not, it’s time to start looking…). Use your team to get the information and support you need. By the way, the third lesson is that your family will always be there for you. That’s true of your support system here in the Diabetes Online Community. Take advantage of us!