Toni Bernhard has written another great book, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness! Her first one, How to Be Sick, is one of my all-time favorites, and this is a wonderful follow up. Both books share her experience of living with chronic illness, including fatigue and pain. She fully describes her journey to figuring out how to best live with a new reality, using Buddhist principles of acceptance, compassion, and mindfulness.
How to Live Well is full of suggestions for coping and thriving with chronic illness:
- finding joy in the life you now lead
- how to soothe your body, mind and heart
- using compassion to alleviate your suffering
- facing ups and down with calmness and acceptance
When I most enjoyed about the new book is how full of examples it is. She describes exactly how she uses these coping techniques, and which ones she uses to deal with each particular challenge. Tony is also brave enough to share when she fails, and when things don’t work. I found the book very practical and clearly explained. I believe it would greatly benefit not just those with illness, but everyone facing life’s challenges, and of any spirituality.