One may ask, what is the connection between purpose in life and chronic pain? Well, chronic pain can easily become an all-consuming existence, a black hole of a kind – unless you find something that gives you purpose and takes you away from chronic pain.
This point is supported by evidence from many of those who succeeded beating serious illnesses. If you have something to live for (other than your illness!), you have a much better chance to overcome your pain. As I struggled with my pain spreading rapidly from hands to other parts of my body, there was only one reason for me to continue my fight: my family needed me. I heard similar stories from others, for whom being relied upon by their family was a major stimulus to recover.
When my CRPS was at its worst, I came across the story of a cancer patient who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given 6 months to live. He returned to his childhood home in Greece to die, but every day he set a goal for himself, first to be able to walk to the church where his grandfather preached, then to be able to sit on the porch of the church and talk to his childhood friends, then to clear the weeds around the church and then – to move on with his life! 20 years later, still alive and well, he went back to the US to see those 6 doctors who independently of each other gave him 6 months to live and ask them about the diagnosis that proved to be wrong, but they were all dead. I re-read that story dozens of times, and it gave me hope, inspiration and purpose. I, too, wanted to prove my doctors wrong!
Another way to find purpose is to resume pursuing whatever goals you had before you became sick, despite the pain. There are numerous stories of athletes who overcame serious illnesses because they had a goal of a grand achievement motivating them. Take your long forgotten ambitious goals out of the dusty closet – and go for it!
Another thing that can get you out of the black hole of pain is helping others. Helping others had a very positive impact on me after I acquired some knowledge and experience in recovery from TMS and started answering questions at the TMS forum. I highly recommend volunteering to distract yourself from your unrelenting pain but also to experience a pure joy of knowing that somebody was helped by your advice or information you shared. Joy has a great healing power!
No matter how you find your purpose in life and what that purpose ends up being, grand or small, personal or socially oriented, make sure you have it!
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