Life Challenges and Life Changes
I’m not sure I saw it this way at first, but I found that the obstacles I faced really opened the door for new opportunities and beginnings. In many ways, the changes associated with the challenges kept my life from returning to the same place it had been before. The challenges pushed me to think about life in different ways. Things could never quite go back to the same spot once I had faced the biggest physical, mental, career, and life hurdles.
This was true physically, emotionally, spiritually, and in my career. My body didn’t quite work like it had before. Post cancer and 5 surgeries later my inclination for injury increased significantly. One of the most obvious examples came in my choice to compete in a CrossFit competition. I was convinced I could and needed to do it, just to prove to myself that I was healthy. Yet, the result at the end of the competition was a severe hernia (and another surgery) from trying to lift too much weight. Obviously, this wasn’t my best choice.
Even now post stroke, I’m still consistently in the gym, but my body just doesn’t want to operate like it did before my health and physical challenges. I deal with spasticity on my left side and light-headedness. This doesn’t mean that I’ve given up taking care of myself physically, it simply means that I’m required to approach the gym in a different way. I need to recognize my limitations, but I’m still working and striving to be in the best shape possible. Being idle or static is not an option for me.
Emotionally and spiritually the stroke affected how I engage the world and others. I was never much of a sentimental person, but now I’m even less inclined to respond to life that way. I see no value in arguing and debating silly political or spiritual positions. Those kinds of meanderings just tend to cloud my head and perspective of others. I enjoy and want to have deep conversations, but if it gets defensive or emotionally charged, I’m probably out. It’s not that I’m afraid of conflict, I just don’t see the value of getting wrapped around the axle about political and church stuff anymore.
From a career perspective, I really began to consider my purpose for being here. Until my late 40’s I had always been certain about my career path. Yet prior to that, in my late 30’s, I began to pray that God would put me in a place where my life could make the biggest difference. I no longer cared about what my ego wanted or what others thought I should do. I wanted to be in a place where my life made an impact and a difference that would help others.
It’s that idea that drove me to develop the MIND Method and write my book that will be released in January. Choose Your Best was written with a deep desire to help others overcome their challenges and rise above the obstacles in life. All of us are going to face ugly moments, transitions, and challenges. What defines us is not if we face them, but how we face them, and I believe all of us can encounter the challenges and come out stronger and better people. We can choose to live into the best versions of ourselves. The challenges of life will force us to change, and change can be good.
Choose your best!!
Quick Questions:
What challenges have you had to face?
How have those challenges changed your mindset and perspective of life?