Lesson from a Sick Day

I’ve always considered my refusal to succumb to sickness a great example of the power of positive thinking. Now I’m reconsidering.

I stayed home sick today. Rare, for me. Not that I’m immune to the occasional bug, but usually I can will away my symptoms—or at least set them aside for eight hours—and put in a good day’s work.

As Norman Vincent Peale famously said, “You can if you think you can.” And I’ve always considered my refusal to succumb to sickness a great example of the power of positive thinking.

Now I’m reconsidering. Sure, it takes strength of mind to rise above physical weakness. But doesn’t it also take a certain strength to acknowledge your limitations? Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up or giving in. Admitting you have a problem is the first step in overcoming it. Just look at the first of the Twelve Steps of AA.

Refusing to admit that this nasty cold and cough has sapped my energy—that’s not thinking positive, that’s foolishness. I’m going to accept that my body needs rest to recover. In fact, I’m going to take a nap now to help it along.

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