Andrea's Story
On September 3, 1996 I thought I had it all – a wonderful family, successful career, a busy social life. But when I awoke to my alarm clock on September 4th I felt as though I had been run over by a truck. I was weak and exhausted, and even rolling over in bed required more energy than I could muster. I was sure I had the flu, but when a week went by and I wasn’t feeling any better, I went to the doctor. This turned out to be the first of many visits to many doctors and specialists…none of whom were able to diagnose the illness that left me barely able to function. I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but after more than 10 years of suffering with symptoms of extreme exhaustion, weakness, vertigo, dizziness, migraines, short term memory loss, as well as chemical and food sensitivities, I began to doubt I would ever be well again.
When traditional medicine failed to provide the answers I was so desperately seeking, I began to look for natural and alternative cures. Though some provided temporary improvement, the overall quality of my life continued to decline. And as it did, and as the years went by, I began to lose hope and the innate sense of optimism that had gotten me through so many prior challenges.
One day I was meeting with a natural health practitioner that I had been working with for several months, and who recognized my sense of despair and frustration. He suggested that if the supplements and treatments I had been trying for so long were not working, perhaps it was time to ask for God’s help. I was not a religious or spiritual person, and had struggled with these uncertainties all of my life. His reply when I explained this was, “having faith and believing in a Higher Power is as simple as making the choice to do so.” I was stunned by his reply – I had never before considered the possibility that our thoughts, and things like faith, were actually something we were capable of choosing!
He introduced me to a very special young woman who worked as a spiritual counselor in his office. I shared the story of my long journey to find healing, and my feelings that if there is a God surely He must be punishing me for something to allow me to suffer for so long. To which she suggested: Ask God to reveal Himself to you in such a way that you will never doubt His existence again. And once you no longer doubt Him, you can turn to Him for guidance. I was uncomfortable by her suggestion, but also desperate, and so I decided to follow her advice and repeated her words, “God I ask you to reveal yourself to me so I never doubt your existence again.” Within a few days the most amazing things started to happen. First, and the most profound, was discovering the philosophies of Dr. Wayne Dyer. After listening to his CD set, The Essence of Being in Balance, I knew two things:
1. My life was about to change.
2. I had the power to change it.
Listening to Dr. Dyer talk about the impact our thoughts and intentions have on the energy we attract to our lives was an awakening! His explanation about the relationship between the mind and body made perfect sense! I realized that I grown to identify with the “sick me” and no longer felt any connection to the “healthy me.” And I knew the time had come to let go of these negative thoughts and self-defeating patterns.
This experience was just the first of many instances in which God’s presence became evident to me. Suddenly I was connecting with people who were able to help me identify the root causes of the physical and emotional conditions that were contributing to my symptoms, and who guided me to the treatments and techniques that offered relief from the worst of my symptoms. Slowly but surely my life began to change, because I began to change! The more I focused on the positive energy I wanted to attract, the more of it I attracted.
Since the day I asked God to prove His existence to me, I have learned so much about myself, about the human spirit, and all that we are capable of achieving. I know that we each have the ability to choose the energy we want to be aligned with… and have the power to change our lives. No matter what you are going through, or what is happening in your life right now, you too have the power to change course…to do the impossible…and to find all that you are searching for. This is not the story I would have ever imagined telling, nor the direction I had anticipated my life to take.
Living with illness has been frustrating, disheartening, and often lonely. It has also been inspiring and rewarding.But I share my story with you with the hope that you realize you are not alone…that no matter how difficult your struggle, you are exactly where it is intended for you to be. Challenge and suffering can be the gateway to unlimited growth, enlightement and amazing transormations. Keep your mind open and hope in your heart, and all things are possible! ~ Andrea Chervenak
If you have any questions or comments, email: Andrea@HealWithHope.com
