Episode 17: Kimberly Rae – Live Joyfully Despite Chronic Illness

About the Show

In this episode, we’ll be talking about health from the perspective of someone who lives with an incurable chronic condition.

You will learn:

1. Chronic illness drastically affects the lives of those who have it, much more so than they show it.

2. It’s very hard to live with a chronic illness, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well.

3. Listeners who struggle with illness will be motivated to not try to fake health to prove their worth to others, and that even though they cannot in many ways choose the condition of their bodies, they can choose their attitude and their spiritual perspective, which makes all the difference in life being joyful or bitter.

About the Speaker

Kimberly Rae is an Amazon bestselling author who lives with Addison’s disease, talks about health from the “other side” in her Sick & Tired series, including “Laughter for the Sick & Tired” and “Why Doesn’t God Fix It?” Her insights into life with illness will encourage those who have a chronic condition and help those who are healthy better understand. Find out more at her website.

Gift

A free pdf to the first 10 people to get on the website www.kimberlyrae.com. Click the contact button and drop Kimberly a little note that you heard the podcast and you’d like the book I will send you the book over email.

Show Notes

Laughter for the Sick & Tired book

Why Doesn’t God Fix It? book

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE 17 WITH KIMBERLY RAE

Excerpt from our interview — BEEP Model

Now, we’re going to move on to the BEEP round. Kimberly will give quick tips on the four disciplines of Bible study, eating healthy, exercise, and prayer or BEEP. So what do you have for us for a quick tip for Bible study?

Kimberly

I would say the most important for all four of those is to set aside a time and make a plan. We know we have to do that if we’re going to exercise yet we think that with Bible study and prayer sometimes well that’s just going to come naturally because I should want to do all those things. And yet like exercise, whether we want to and whether we know it’s beneficial or not, if we’re going to set aside time and if we don’t make a plan it’s probably not going to happen. I was convicted of that myself thinking we’re really in a transition stage and I had not made a plan and not set aside time and sure enough time is slipping away. And so I need to start committing this is my time for Bible study, this is my time for prayer, think about what we’re eating instead of just responding. So like with everything and like living with illness just responding with how you feel is not a good way to have a healthy lifestyle. Whether spiritually, physically or emotionally. So that’s my advice, make a plan and stick with it.

Kimberley

Oh yeah, I’m not sure who first coined the term but I like it, “If you fail to plan then you plan to fail”. So do you have a quick tip for eating healthy?

Kimberly

Well, don’t go to the store when you’re hungry. I actually have a chart of things to check off if I’m finding that I’m leaning towards something that’s unhealthy—too much fat food, too much processed food or too much fried food or something like that—I start a checklist that I check off every day. I didn’t do this, or I did do this. I planned ahead or I ate this instead of this. Because there’s something about seeing that you checked it off and you’re much more likely to do it if you have that accountability with yourself. And you’re more likely to stick with it than well I messed up today I might as well mess up again tomorrow.

Kimberley

And your quick tip for exercise?

Kimberly

When you can fit it in, fit it in. I actually struggle with that because with my different conditions exercise usually flares something up for me so it’s finding the thing that works for you and not feeling like you have to keep up with everybody else. I can’t go walking with other people because I can’t keep up. I’ve learned to stop trying to exercise with people even though it’s enjoyable but for me personally I need to do what works for me. So whatever works for you that is okay.

Kimberley

And your quick tip for prayer?

Kimberly

Get alone. I have two kids and we’re living in my parent’s house right now while we’re waiting for a house to come through and I just find that when I don’t get alone with God I’m missing time with my best friend. And I’m missing getting the strength that I need. You think, “Well I don’t have time for that because I have so much going on” but you need time, you need to make the time. Because you need it. His strength can’t be perfect if you don’t have it.

 

FREE Download of Transcript

 

 

This interview has been brought to you by JumpStart – a free 2 week challenge to blend positive healthy habits into your lifestyle.

**

DISCLOSURE: SOME OF THE LINKS IN THE PAGE ABOVE MAY BE “AFFILIATE LINKS.” THIS MEANS IF YOU CLICK ON THE LINK AND PURCHASE THE ITEM, WE WILL RECEIVE AN AFFILIATE COMMISSION. WE ARE DISCLOSING THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION’S 16 CFR, PART 255: “GUIDES CONCERNING THE USE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS IN ADVERTISING.”