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We all wish we had that one person when we were first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The one who understood exactly what we were feeling. Someone who could offer real-life advice, not just the clinical version you get from your doctor.

When I was newly diagnosed, I searched everywhere for her. But no one showed up. And I never forgot that feeling. That’s why I created this message today. To be that person for you. Whether you were diagnosed yesterday or years ago, this message is for anyone who needs to hear it.

These are the three guiding principles I remind myself of daily. They’re simple but powerful truths that have shaped my journey with MS and they just might shift your perspective too.

1. Don’t Assume Anything About Your Future Based on Someone Else’s Experience

MS is often called the snowflake disease for a reason. No two people experience it the same way. There are more than one million people in the U.S. living with MS, and every one of us has a unique journey. You are one in a million. Your MS experience is one in a million.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. I certainly did. Wether it was from Google searches or conversations in support groups. But the truth is, your future is not written by anyone else’s story. It’s yours to create.

Conventional and functional medicine are both evolving. You don’t have to choose one or the other. You can build a care plan that blends the best of both, based on what feels right for you. And you don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you choose to care for your body.

The fact that you’re reading this means you care. You want to be proactive. That alone sets you apart.

So, write this down where you’ll see it often: Don’t assume anything about your future based on someone else’s experience.

Erase the worst-case scenarios and start visualizing your best-case outcome. Then take one step today. Just one toward reclaiming your body, your mind, and your life.

2. Food Won’t Cure MS, But It Can Help You Feel Better

Let’s be clear: there is no cure for MS. And food won’t fix everything. But that doesn’t mean it can’t make a meaningful difference.

Food is one of the tools that has helped me the most in my MS journey. It gave me back energy. It lifted the brain fog. It reduced pain. It helped me feel like myself again and in many ways, even better than before.

That’s why I believe food is worth investing in, even if it’s not a miracle cure.

And no, you don’t have to overhaul your entire diet overnight. One small step like adding a serving of vegetables to dinner can start to shift things. Start simple. Be consistent. Focus on progress, not perfection.

If you’re ready to dive deeper into food as medicine, I created a 5-Day Smoothie Challenge designed to help you heal with real food that tastes amazing. It comes with recipes, shopping lists, and demos to make it easy. You can join at alenebrennan.com/Smoothies.

3. Guard Your Thoughts; They Shape Your Reality

What we feed our mind is just as important as what we feed our body.

The thoughts you dwell on shape your emotions, and those emotions influence your actions. If you believe your diagnosis means the end of your joy, your dreams, or your energy, you’ll start to live that out.

But the opposite is also true.

When you create a mindset of possibility, you open the door to healing and hope. That’s why this principle is so important: Guard your thoughts; they shape your reality.

I’m not saying you can “think your way out of MS.” But you can think your way out of hopelessness. You can interrupt the thoughts that keep you stuck and replace them with ones that move you forward.

One of my favorite quotes is from Kelly Lee Phipps:
If you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them. But if you argue for your possibilities, you get to create them.

To help you start rewriting your internal script, I created a free resource for our MS sisterhood. It’s called the MS Anthem. You can download your copy at mymsanthem.com and say it out loud every day. It’s a powerful reminder that you are not alone and that you can reclaim your life one step at a time.

Final Thoughts

My friend, I hope these three guiding principles offer a fresh perspective on what’s possible with MS.

You are not alone in this. And you don’t have to figure it all out today.

Take one step. Be kind to yourself. And believe in your own strength.

Every day is another chance to reclaim your body, mind, and life from MS.

Want More Encouragement Like This? Tune into this week’s special episode of My MS Podcast:
🎧 3 Guiding Principles to Thriving with Multiple Sclerosis
and Listen now to My MS Podcast