Shalom Lim, who lives in Eastern Singapore, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at 4 months old in 1996. He shares how small daily habits and self-compassion help him stay motivated while navigating life with Duchenne.
Transcript
I would say progress is built on small, consistent actions — such as how we build good habits to achieve a successful life. Every step we take toward getting better is a step toward recovery, a step toward us living a fulfilled life. I would say no one is perfect.
Even if you struggle to adhere to our treatment plan, it’s OK because we can always start over the next day, and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over it. Just acknowledge that our emotions are always in a constant state of flux.
One day, we may not feel like taking a drug or adhering to a treatment. But if you wait just a few minutes, the motivation might come back.
So ultimately, it’s about building the right habits and putting them in place every single day — just like the habits of reading or writing. If you want to be successful at whatever you’re doing, you need to make a habit out of it.
Practice makes perfect. For those who are able to adhere, give yourself a pat on the back after every day. Because I think that it’s not easy to adhere to our treatment plan, especially when it involves a lot of complicated aspects.
But I would say, above all, you’re not in this alone. You’re not defined by your treatment or your medical conditions. Your life is a lot more significant than just that, and treatments are just there to give you the best shot at doing what you love.
Focus on what enables you — focus on what the treatments empower you to do rather than what the triggers take away from you. Don’t be afraid to find help — talk to people, lean on them when you need them.
If something’s not working, please, please ask for help. Your story matters. You matter. You are worth fighting for. So don’t ever forget that.
