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Leadership is ruled by the simple connection of action over time. For this reason, with Liz Pearl, Editor, for PK Press, I wrote a feature in her new book, “BRAIN ATTACK – The Journey Back: A Collection of Inspirational Narratives about Stroke Recovery.” Combining resilience with plucky accountability, this post will reconnect the creative side of positive persuasion…
Am I a good person, stalwart and true? Do I possess qualities of character, wit, intelligence and responsibility? Am I run down and downtrodden? Confident and always reaching for even higher plateaus? Doing enough to get by or go further to accomplish all that I can acquire?
All of us have these questions. And, even though I am not a philosopher or visionary, I grasped a unique insight of the inner workings of my life, especially after a massive stroke at the age of 27, of resilience.
Building Blocks
Why do I say that? Looking objectively, I am amazed and humbled that my life and all the wonderful support of my family, friends, and others over so many years have been a blessing many times over. My abilities, creativity and “can do” attitude to accomplish all of the aspirations both in the past and going forward is still gratifying.
Considering that the prognosis, originally, of my stroke were:
- wheelchair-bound forever
- never go to work for the rest of my natural life and
- be choppy and unintelligible because of aphasia, a language disorder that affects the processing of my brain,
I was upset.
Notwithstanding, my willpower and flexibility were part of the building blocks of my recovery.
Scope of Insight
So, whether you are:
- just at the beginning of your trek to your recovery or
- a person who wants more latitude in the approach to personal satisfaction or
- someone that is fine and dandy, but needs a pick-me-up,
here are four examples that I use, not only for my rehabilitation but beyond:
Tenacity
A bulldog at heart, I am voraciously advancing on any project, advancement and brainstorming ideas that would increase my opportunity or talents. Whether it is my recovery after my stroke or my twenty-four years of a professional career after the accident, to be honest, I don’t take, “No,” in any shape or form in my pursuit when progressing my cause.
Not over-the-top or argumentative, stubborn or too aggressive, tenacity is not giving up. Not excepting the norm and fighting (both literally and figuratively,) it is the good fight on what one believes. In my estimation, suffering a stroke and, especially, procuring aphasia, was crucial to grapple and wiggle my way for every advantage improving my effectiveness.
Tepid and ineffective are not in anyone’s vocabulary if one is trying to build connections to one’s ultimate mission. A strong will and tenacity are indispensable to increase one’s chances of success.
Adaptability
One of my frustrations is that my entire right side is still very weak after my stroke. Using a cane for both walking and balance and the realization that my right side is numb, however, I became very agitated, very quickly. However, over time, I comprehended that I can figure this out and pursue new annotations to do the same areas.
In other words, I adapted the situation depending on the subject at hand. Now, of course, it takes enough amount of patience and persistence to achieve even the little things in my life. It took years of determination before I succeeded to reconciled every nuance.
Simple things like:
- tying my shoe laces,
- driving my automobile or
- dictating a letter or email
- with sometimes incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive, but over time, adaptability, and good old-fashioned hard work will lead to wonderful advancements.
Everyone has problems they can not figure out. Issues they are stuck on. Riddles that they are in overdrive and still not having a solution… yet. Utilizing adaptability to overall circumstances, in either physical or mental comprehension, is incredibly helpful. Also, the acknowledgment of understanding to solving complex issues with relish and vigor are pivotal.
Imagination
Ingenuity and the spark of creativity were parcel and par in my life, but after my stroke, it was fundamental. Especially because of the limitations of my cognitive complications, to imagine beyond was the architect of my goals consistently.
For example, after my stroke with accommodations and gumption, I accomplished several triumphs including:
- several degrees in informational technology, including a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer,
- formulated and maintained both a property and casualty and life insurance agent,
- generated and hosted a fantastic blog, Unmistakably Herb,
- and other pastimes.
All of this after my injury, after my concern of failure or regret, after my worrying nonstop that I will not succeed.
A fixed point that does not define one’s entire life, imagination is almost like a dot. A hiccup. Annoying, but also comforting, this person can achieve with the right motivation.
Humor
A cackle, a grin, a belly laugh. Humor, both inside and outside my world, is an elixir that is second to none. In the dark, a gloomy depressing mess that affected every ripple of fiber after my injury at the beginning, to enjoy and release good humor and levity is so cardinal.
I remember fondly of explaining to other people what aphasia is and laughing to myself uncontrollably. Why? Not because I was embarrassed about my shortcomings, no. Rather, to let off some steam and relax.
Consider this: all of us will receive our very, low point in our life, right? That also means that every day going forward is a joy. We thanked for all of the upturns so far with broad smiles and a joyous hurrah. Life is precious – period.
Alter Your Thinking Patterns
Now, by all means, these are just the highlights; I am sure that there minor attributes that also keep me energized each and every day, too. So, whether you have a life-changing approach or you need some handy tips that you didn’t think about before, the goal is always to alter you are thinking patterns, even for a split second, in small doses.
Got cracking!