7 Valuable Life Lessons I Have Learned After Having Chronic Tinnitus
Can you deal with the noise?
When I was 22 years old, I was diagnosed with chronic tinnitus.
Harvard Health Condition defined tinnitus as “Tinnitus is sound in the head with no external source.” According to NHS Inform, tinnitus is caused by age-related hearing loss, inner ear damage caused by repeated exposure to loud noises, and an earwax build-up. Unfortunately, there is no cure for my condition.
Living with chronic tinnitus is like hell on earth. If you experience getting a vaccine, you know how painful it is when the needle pierces your skin. That’s what it feels like when you have chronic tinnitus.
Here are some of the valuable lessons I have learned despite of my condition:
1. Happiness comes from helping other people.
Apostle Paul wrote in Hebrews 13:16 (ESV) — “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Christians are called to serve other people, and we need to put God first in everything that we do. Sharing the gospel can give people hope, and it can turn non-believers into Christians. We are called to serve because we want to be like Jesus. Medical missions can help us reach the hearts of poor people, just like how Jesus cured blind people to spread the gospel.
Money cannot buy true happiness because it comes from seeing other people have a smile on their faces.
2. You can achieve success despite having tinnitus.
Coldplay is one of the most successful rock bands right now.
The band has over 50 million copies of their album. They are known for their hit songs such as The Scientist, Yellow, and Fix You. Here’s what most people don’t know about the band: The lead vocalist of the band- Chris Martin has tinnitus. In an interview, Martin once said that his tinnitus gave him headaches.
Never let your own beliefs stop you from accomplishing your dreams.
3. Writing is therapy.
Writing a lot will give you clarity, and it will increase your self-awareness.
After writing over 90 articles on the internet, I’ve learned that writing is a powerful tool. You can convince people to act if you provide great arguments. The best writers are storytellers. The Bible changed the world through His word.
Writing can also improve your mood.
4. You cannot change your condition but you can control your reaction.
After taking medicine for my tinnitus, nothing happened. I can still hear the sound inside of my head.
The apostles received a lot of negative criticism after preaching the gospel, but they never stopped. Even in the face of death, they continue to fulfill their mission. As Christians, we need to follow Jesus because we love him, not because we don’t want to be in hell.
Change does not happen unless you make a decision to get better.
5. You are not alone.
According to a recent study, 15% of the population of the Philippines have a moderate or worse hearing loss.
A lot of Christians feel lonely because of persecution. King David once said, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” When we have Christ in our hearts, we are not lonely. The Holy Spirit will guide us in our decisions. After having tinnitus, I thank God for all the blessings he has given me.
Being alive is a gift from God.
6. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
Peter asked for help from Jesus when he was drowning in the water.
When you are facing struggles in life, you can ask for help through prayers. God always answers our prayers, but He does not always give us the answer we want to hear from Him. It’s okay to ask for help when you are facing a new problem. You will accelerate your progress if you ask for help.
Basketball players have coaches, and Christians have Jesus.
7. Courage comes from taking action despite fear.
Successful people always act despite receiving tons of criticism.
People make fun of Christians because of their faith. But, Jesus promises us a paradise. We share the gospel because we want other people to know that there is a Savior—a savior who wants to save us from our suffering.
Your life must be a testimony of how to become a great Christian.
Thanks for reading!
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