The connection between health and happiness is well-established, but sometimes personal stories say a lot more than a recap of the latest research. This week, we’re looking at posts from positive people with chronic conditions. Here are a few of our favorites:

01 Blogger Julie Ryan of Counting My Spoons reflects on the importance of celebrating the small victories in 10 Ways To Be Happier Despite Chronic Illness. She also has some strong points about comparing yourself to others.

02 Do not underestimate the power of support. In this inspiring post, blogger Margaret Romero shares how support has enabled her to thrive with her chronic condition. Whether from family or medical professionals, Margaret credits a lot of her success to her support team.

03  Author Joy Selak has 10 Ways to Live Well, Even With Chronic Illness. Our favorite? Search for silver linings. The phrase ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ represents an attitude of finding the good in any situation, no matter how challenging it might be. It’s more than just believing that good things are to come, it’s an understanding that every negative can actually be a positive, depending on your perspective.

04 On chronic illness blogger Natasha Lipman’s post Staying Positive With Chronic Illness, she suggests staying hopeful and optimistic. She recommends to look at the future with hope, and we agree that this advice is crucial in not letting a chronic condition control your life.

05 In writer Sneha Dave’s post How to Stay Positive When Life Includes a Serious Chronic Condition, she highlights the importance of finding something that makes you happy. For Sneha, it’s philanthropy and giving back, but for many people, it is art or music – the options are endless! She emphasizes how surrounding yourself with some or many activities can be an escape from your illness.

No matter who we are, or what challenges we face, there will be times when life gets us down, but how we react is what really matters. A positive attitude can make all the difference.