When you're living with a chronic illness, it can feel like your whole world revolves around management plans, symptom tracking, and just getting through the day. In the midst of all that, it's easy to lose touch with the things that used to light you up—the simple joys, passions, and pieces of yourself that make life feel meaningful.

In this episode, we’re talking about Ikigai, the Japanese concept that loosely translates to "reason for being." We explore how reconnecting with what you love—even in small ways—can shift your experience and allow for more freedom, peace, and ease no matter what you’re dealing with.

What We Talk About in This Episode:

* What Ikigai means and how it relates to chronic illness

* The inward focus of managing chronic illness and how it can shift your energy away from what truly lights you up

* The shift from “my possibilities are limited” to “my possibilities are different”

* Why healing isn’t just about protocols—it’s also about curiosity, passion, and doing the things that matter to you

Episode Links:

* Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Healthy Life

* Samantha’s Thriving With Gastroparesis Community

* Subscribe on Substack

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