Imagine, you’re in your comfort space, wherever that may be. It could be your home, the gym, the beach, the rainforest, your car; during either night or day. And you’re sitting there, contemplating. You are feeling uneasy and unnatural, lost and frightened of the unknown. Why? The unknown is outside your comfort space and because by unfortunate chance, you’ve sustained a long term chronic condition or injury. A decision needs to be made, as to whether you’re going to accept your circumstances or prepare to make change. And I say do both, take a psychological stand!
Often we are caught up in the ‘oh if i didn’t do [insert activity], this wouldn’t have happened’ or ‘If I did this differently, I wouldn’t have to deal with [insert outcome]’ or ‘I can’t do this because of [insert label]’; the real question is what are you going to do about the cards you’ve been dealt? What are you going to do to create change?
It’s obvious isn’t it?
If you aren’t happy with your circumstances than something needs to change.
Simple, right? Yes, but not entirely. Creating change can be extremely daunting, especially for those who’ve sustained long term chronic conditions or injury and are now contemplating about having to go through the process of rehabilitation. Information affects each and every one of us differently, and our response to information can be quite different. Just like how every person experiences different levels of adaptivity to exercise and differering results at different times. So how can we progress towards making change for ourselves?
Well first and foremost,
For change to occur, you need to be aware of what you’re needing to change, right?
If you aren’t aware of what you, yourself, are needing or wanting to change, then how will you progress towards changing it? It’s just like the saying ‘you don’t know what you don’t know,’ right? So take some time to reflect on your circumstances and consider where you would like to be opposed to where you currently are. This links hand in hand with acceptance. It is important to accept your own situation, but it doesn’t mean your belief system has to settle for that. You either choose to accept your circumstances and settle for that as your way of life or you choose to accept your circumstances and prepare to move forward. Awareness and acceptance by self-reflection is necessary for change.
You’re always in a position to create change, once you’ve realised this, preparation by moving forward towards action then begins. Does this mean engaging in positive thoughts, self-belief, goal setting, having resilience and stepping outside your comfort zone? Of course it does. It means you’re conceptualizing the idea that yes you can accept your circumstances, but no you won’t settle, you’re willing to strive towards creating a better version of your current self. It’s a behavioural shift in belief.
Finally, it’s lights, camera, ACTION! You have the capacity to drastically change your circumstances if you allow yourself to do so. You are in control of what you can alter and how this affects you personally. Your feelings, your reactions, your responses, your work ethic, all of it.
Accept and prepare, take a psychological stand with yourself, for yourself.
It’s quite easy to ‘preach’, but to hear and relate to someone else’s truth makes everything a bit more real, does it not? Let me share a small piece of my story with you. Stay tuned for Part Two.
And if you have any concerns or questions about your rehab or are stuck in this cycle of recovering from an injury or chronic pain, please reach out – we would love to hear from you!
Jassi 👊🏽
Get in Touch!
If you have any concerns or questions about your rehab or are stuck in this cycle of recovering from an injury or chronic pain, please reach out – we would love to hear from you!
