WHAT DEFINES IS HOW WELL WE RISE AFTER THE FALL. ~ ELLIE PARVIN

At one time in everyone’s life they may experience physical and mental challenges caused by injury.  

Often times an injury can throw a wrench in peoples immediate plans. As time passes, they realize that their daily routines, even some of the easiest tasks, take twice as long to do or cannot be accomplished without help.

Imagine your hand is broken and you need to tie your shoe or type. Your right foot or knee is injured and you are unable to drive.

If you are like me, physical fitness is my form of stress management, therapy, personal challenge and joy. I function and communicate much better when  I’m stress free.

Physical Injury Effects the Psyche

For many, eventually a long term debilitation can affect the way they act and communicate with others.

5 Stages of Dealing with Injury: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

Losses associated with  injury possibly equated to a process of mourning, according to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross the author of “On Death and Dying.”  She outlines the five stages of coping with loss.

Olympic Athletes Rise Above Injuries

After fracturing her foot two weeks prior to the Olympics, Justyna Kowalczyk posted her X-ray on Facebook and stated that this was not going to stop her from competing in the Sochi Olympics. Well she dominated and won a Gold medal for Poland in the women’s cross-country 10-kilometer classical race!  How is that for inspiration!

Motivation for Non-Olympic Athlete: International Surgery

So you are not a professional or Olympic athlete.  That’s okay and you don’t have to be to rise above your fall!

I recently had a similar experience with an injury while snowboarding in another country. I won’t get into the details here, but the result was emergency surgery in a foreign country alpine village hospital, overnight stay in the hospital, a titanium plate with six screws, a high-tech boot, some sporty crutches and a slight change in plans for the rest of our vacation. Yes I know, it’s a pretty cool souvenir!

The good news is you don’t have to be a professional athlete or Olympian to create a positive mind-set!

3 Tips

1. Accept and Learn

Unless you have a time machine or a Time-Turner you can’t go back and undo what’s been done. Don’t waste your time and energy with could’ve, would’ve and should’ve. Remember it is okay to make mistakes, it’s proof that you are active and living.  The best you can do is learn from the error and move on by living in the present.

Even though I was fresh out of the hospital I didn’t waist one minute enjoying time with family, people I love and making the most of my vacation.

2. Establish a Routine

Create and maintain a daily routine that works with your injury.

If you can, keep exercising! Studies show that continuing  to workout in one way or another (safely)  will boost your happy endorphins. If you can’t participate, then rehearse mentally. Mental rehearsal of movement helps maintain neuro-muscular connections, even without movement itself.

Personally I did upper-body strength training 4-5 time per week and took treks 4-5 times per week outdoors rain or shine. For me getting outside is always uplifting.

3. Set New Goals

Set a new goal (or goals). If you are on a journey and come to a brick wall what will you do? Stop? No! You either turn back and find another path or you build something to get over the wall.  Sometimes when things in our life happen we have to change directions. Having a goal and a plan helps us stay positive.

I started writing my blog and focusing on other non-physical tasks that were on my list that often fell by the wayside due to physical activities taking precedence.

Other things you can do to stay positive:

• Write about your experience to share with others
• Surround yourself with uplifting, positive people
• Turn to social media for motivation to push through tough days
• Read about others who triumph over injuries and set-backs
• Be patient with yourself

More often than not, your situation will be temporary. If this is the case consider yourself lucky that this experience will pass. In fact, it’s been seven weeks and I am already back to teaching communications and instructing Yoga and Power Yoga classes. I am getting stronger every day.

Take it all in and get everything you can out of your experience and I promise you will be a stronger and more compassionate person and communicator from your efforts and ability to rise above your fall.

Other Interesting Links:

http://blog.anklefootmd.com/2014/02/17/polish-skier-wins-cross-country-race-with-broken-foot/

http://www.endurancecorner.com/Mimi_Winsberg/psychology_injuries