I’ve Tackled Another of My Heartfelt Goals — You Can, Too

I don’t know about you, but I’m continually aware of my limited time on this earth. Using my time wisely is very important to me. I’ve been working on several goals that have been a challenge to finish. I thought I’d share one I recently completed and what I learned in the process. I hope it will help you consider what goals are important to you, and how to accomplish them.

A heartfelt goal

My pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis was four and a half years ago. When first diagnosed, I found so much information on the internet that was either incorrect or shared in terrifying ways. I also noticed that few resources were available to help patients deal with the emotional turmoil of suddenly being diagnosed with a terminal illness. I’m sure you remember the shock and horror that you felt. I felt overwhelmed dealing with this unwanted reality, struggled with my emotions, and had no idea what to do.

I’ve learned a lot from my own experiences as well as from fellow patients like you. I decided to put all I’ve learned into a book. I want to walk alongside my fellow patients and their loved ones as we navigate the confusion, fears, questions, and grief that accompany this diagnosis.

Wanting to give back

It has become very important for me to give back to the pulmonary fibrosis community. I’ve had the privilege of writing this column for the last two years, and have learned so much from all of you. I am grateful for your support and encouragement. I’m so excited that my book, “Pulmonary Fibrosis Journey: A Counselor and Fellow Patient Walks with You,” will be released on Nov. 15 — less than two weeks away! I hope it will be a blessing to patients, caregivers, and physicians alike.

I’ll bet you have goals you hope to accomplish, too.

Tips for accomplishing your goal

I felt overwhelmed taking on such a huge challenge. I procrastinated for six months before grasping the will to tackle it. Here’s what I learned:

1. Write down the goal you want to accomplish and why it is so important to you. Set a realistic date to accomplish it. Be flexible.
2. Include everything you need to do to complete this goal.
3. Create monthly, weekly, and daily goals.
4. Be realistic. Realize there will be days you don’t feel good and won’t be able to work on your goal. Build “not-feeling-good days” into your plan.
5. Think about who you can ask for help. Enlist family and friends to turn it into a fun experience, then ask them for help.
6. Work on it a little bit at a time as you are able. Keep reminding yourself how happy you’ll be when it is accomplished.
7. Celebrate when you’re all done!!!

I could use your help!

Launching a book is a lot of work. When I released my last two books, I was able to do lots of public speaking to spread the word. Unfortunately, I’m not able to do that anymore. The great news is that there are many great ways to let others know about this book.

• Tell your doctor and other medical professionals.
• Share with your family, friends, and support groups, both online and in-person.
• Follow me on Twitter and share my tweets about the book.
• Share this column with other patients and caregivers you know.
• If you’re on Facebook, join my Facebook Launch Team. There, I will share quotes from the book, blog posts, and videos like the one above, and I’ll ask you to share them on your page. To join, click this link and then click the “Join” button. I will approve you within 24 hours. I would LOVE to have you join the group. It will be a lot of fun and you’ll get to know other patients and caregivers, too.

How about you?

Do you have a goal you would like to accomplish, and why is it important to you? Who can you ask for help to accomplish your goal? What heartfelt goals have you already accomplished?

Please leave a comment below and share with those who could benefit via email or on social media.

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Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.