I never expected my perspective on healing to change this much. For years, like many people navigating chronic illness, I believed the goal was remission. No symptoms. Perfect labs. No evidence of disease. Complete recovery (at least by LLMD - Lyme Literate Provider - standards).
And while I still understand the desire for those things, my own experience has forced me to ask a different question:
What if remission isn't actually the goal?
Recently, I reviewed some of my Lyme and co-infection testing. If you've followed my story, you know I've spent years addressing chronic infections and supporting my health. Looking at those labs, you might assume I'd feel terrible. Some markers still suggest significant immune activity. Some results remain far from ideal.
But here's the surprising part:
My life looks dramatically different than it did years ago. I have even EXCEEDED many of my health goals DESPITE having a list of "diagnoses."
I have more energy.
More stability.
More capacity.
More resilience.
I can serve my clients.
Spend time with my family.
Travel.
Exercise.
Enjoy life.
I'm primarily pain-free.
"Autoimmune" symptoms (and thus diagnoses) are GONE.
The lab results don't tell that story.
One of the dangers of chronic illness is that healing can become something that always stays just out of reach. If one symptom improves, we focus on the next. If one lab normalizes, we chase another. If one problem is solved, we search for the next hidden issue. Without realizing it, we can become trapped in a cycle of constantly looking for what's wrong.
I've SOOOOO been there. Many of my clients have too.
Today, I personally define success differently.
I still care about labs.
I still care about symptoms.
I still care about improving health.
But I care even more about capacity.
Can I recover after a busy week?
Can I enjoy time with my family?
Can I manage stress without crashing?
Can I live life without constant symptom management?
Can I participate fully in my life?
Those questions matter deeply. Because health isn't just what's happening inside a lab report. Health is also what happens in real life.
This doesn't mean giving up, or settling, or ignoring symptoms. It means recognizing that perfect health may not be the only measure of progress. Maybe the goal isn't becoming fragile inside a perfectly controlled bubble. Maybe the goal is becoming resilient enough to thrive in an imperfect world.
For me, that mindset has been incredibly freeing.
And for many people struggling with chronic illness, it may be exactly the shift they need.
If fatigue, stress, or chronic health challenges have left you feeling stuck, my upcoming webinar, Running on Empty, will help you uncover common energy drains and practical strategies to support lasting resilience.
Stay tuned for registration details coming soon (make sure you're on my email list!!!).
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