There was a season in my life when uncertainty quietly became the soundtrack in my mind. My life had taken a significant turn due to my illness, and everything was changing.
I didn’t recognize it at first because on the outside, I was still functioning. I was working hard, pushing through responsibilities, trying to stay strong, and doing my best to manage the growing uncertainty surrounding my health.
But internally, I was exhausted, frustrated, and possibly even fearful.
My thoughts constantly revolved around questions like:
What’s happening to my body?
Will things get worse?
How will this impact my future?
As I shared in my memoir, Faithful Autoimmune Remission, my autoimmune journey affected every part of my life—physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed by uncertainty and consumed by stress.
What I didn’t fully understand at the time was how much my internal environment mattered.
One of the most important mindset shifts in my healing journey was learning that healing isn’t only physical. Healing also involves the thoughts we repeatedly nurture.
As a friend recently said, “Whatever has your focus, whether it’s negative or positive, tends to shape your path.”
Now, let me be clear: mindset alone is not a cure for autoimmune disease, nor do I believe we should ignore the value of traditional medicine and appropriate medical care. I’m deeply grateful for the healthcare providers who walked alongside me throughout my journey and still are.
But I also came to understand something powerful:
Our minds and bodies are deeply connected.
Research continues to show that chronic stress and negative thought patterns can affect inflammation, immune regulation, sleep, hormones, and overall well-being. When we live in a constant state of fear, striving, or hopelessness, our nervous system remains activated, which can make healing more difficult.
For me, the shift began when I stopped focusing only on everything I had lost and started intentionally focusing on what I could still nurture.
I began practicing gratitude.
I spent more time in prayer.
I learned to quiet my mind.
I spent time outdoors.
I started paying attention to the words I spoke over myself and my future.
Most importantly, I stopped viewing myself as powerless. I knew I still had life left to live and it would look different but it could still be good.
That doesn’t mean every day was easy. It certainly wasn’t. But I began choosing hope over despair, one small step at a time.
Romans 12:2 NLT in part says:
“…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think….”
That scripture became deeply meaningful to me during my healing journey, including the last part that says:
“…Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I realized I had to stop feeling sorry for myself, uncertain about the future and begin renewing my mind with truth, hope, and faith. I had to remind myself that my diagnosis was part of my story, but it was not my identity.
One simple practice that helped me was asking myself:
“Is this thought helping my healing or hurting it?”
That question created awareness around the mental patterns I had unknowingly developed through stress and uncertainty.
Today, I still believe mindset is foundational to healing because our thoughts influence our emotions, behaviors, habits, and even the way we care for our bodies.
If you’re navigating autoimmune disease or another chronic condition, I want to encourage you today:
Your body is not your enemy.
Your story is not over.
And healing often begins with small internal shifts long before we see external change.
You may not control every circumstance, but you can begin creating an internal environment that supports peace, resilience, hope, and healing.
One thought at a time.
In love and health,
Terri
