Embracing Your Diagnosis as a Gift, Teacher & Blessing

Embracing your diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing. Sounds a little convoluted doesn’t it? Well yes it is a complex concept, but Hillary Rubin is living proof that it is possible. A few weeks ago I did not know Hillary, but she sent me an e-mail introducing herself and sharing her philosophy on wellness:

Hillary Rubin

Personally my journey began back in 1996 when I was working in the fashion industry for Prada in NYC and was diagnosed with MS. Like most I was upset, angry and thought my life was over. At the same time I also found yoga and now from keeping up a healthy lifestyle (left fashion), yoga and other holistic tools am living symptom & drug free. What worked for me that I also teach is to embrace the diagnosis, empower myself through taking action and enjoy the experiment process that is a constant evolution.

 

I am involved with the So Cal MS Chapter as a speaker, expert and yoga teacher. My business I am not a Mess ™ is dedicated to help others see there diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing. Yes – I know that takes time but I have been able to do this and have created products to help like my Yoga DVD Foundations, Free Growth Worksheets and will be starting Free Tele-seminars in March (http://www.askhillarynow.com) to answer questions regarding diagnosis, wellness and what to do with our challenges. 

 

After reading Hillary’s e-mail I took the time to review her website and read more about her philosophy. She has founded her life’s work around her mission to share how she embraced her illness, learned from what her body was telling her and is now living symptom free. I was intrigued so I signed up for her free tele-seminar on March 25th.

March 25th was a particularly bad day for me. Just two days after my lab Casey had passed and I really was not in a good frame of mind for the call. I almost did not call in, but the thing that motivated me to follow through was the hope that I would get something out of it to share on my blog and with my support group. For the first fifteen minutes I sat listening, but not really hearing what Hillary was sharing, but eventually the sound of her voice and her passion and enthusiasm sucked me. Before I knew it I had written 5 pages of notes! Here are just a few bullet points from my notes:

• What is your health worth to you?
• You are responsible for your health.
• You are more than any diagnosis.
• Love yourself in the way you want others to love you.
• Growth isn’t linear, it takes time.
• Our mind feeds our body – the subconscious is powerful.
• Shift from “I have” to “I was diagnosed.”
• Journaling gets “it” out of your body.
• Know that you are not alone.

The message Hillary shared on her call was inspiring. At the end of the hour my heart felt lighter and much of the sadness had left me. Within minutes I began writing my tribute post to Casey and my grief began to leave me. I felt blessed for the time I had with her instead of a sense of loss. Now I am feeling inspired to apply Hillary’s message to my health. If it worked for my grief, it can work for my overall wellness. I feel like I am already on a similar path, and it is no coincidence that my path crossed with Hillary’s. 

Yesterday I received another e-mail from Hillary offering a free MP3 of the tele-seminar. I have not listened to it again, but I plan to. And I wanted to offer the link to any of you who feel you can benefit from her message. I think everyone can, so here is the link: Ask Hillary Now

It is an hour long, so make yourself a cup of tea, grab a notepad and get comfy. I promise it will be worth your time. She has another call coming up on April 29th if you would like to sign up for it. Just click the link in her above e-mail. If you do listen to the MP3 I would love to know what you think. If you do not find your blessing there today, I hope you find it somewhere!