Welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy you decided to stop by and visit with me. I am happy to be able to share this time with you. Life is an amazing process. Many twists and turns along the road. My experience has taught me to stay committed to my process. I have found that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Having a goal helps to keep me focused when I encounter steep slopes and switch-backs on my journey. Commitment then becomes the essential component when to turn back would be much easier.
I have heard a definition of insanity that you may have also heard. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. As a traumatic brain injury survivor as well as the recipient of an invisible disability, I spent too many years of my life attempting to be someone without a brain injury. I bought into the assumption that because I had no physical signs of a disability, I should not have a disability. You may also find yourself motivated to deny that you have an invisible disability.
When I made the decision to embrace my “reality” I gave myself permission to have my limitations and deficits without becoming a prisoner to those limitations and deficits. Craig J. Phillips
My commitment to my process grew stronger when I was able to accept that I am a traumatic brain injury survivor. Rather than attempting to be something I am not, I began to embrace my invisible disability. As I have grown in my awareness I have learned to empower my process through my limitations and deficits. I am not my limitations or my deficits. I am not a victim of my circumstances. I am not my traumatic brain injury. I am a traumatic brain injury survivor who is learning how to thrive with in my set of circumstances.
Earlier this evening I was able to spend some time with a friend of mine who is a 7th degree black belt. As we spoke the topic of commitment was discussed. He shared that people succeed in the martial arts because they determine to commit themselves to the goal. The goal is to learn to adapt to any given situation. I believe my commitment and progress in my martial arts training mirrors my commitment to living my life with an invisible disability. As I accept my invisible disability and stay committed to my process I am learning to adapt to any given situation and succeed.
You may have circumstances or situations in your world that may seem overwhelming. You may have an invisible disability that you have a hard time accepting my friend. You may have been misdiagnosed by “professional” staff that have in turn minimized your set of circumstances. You may also have people in your world that have a need to deny your reality. My encouragement to you my friend would be to accept your reality. There is no shame in having and invisible disability. Please read my 2 part series, Having an Invisible Disability – The Consequence of Denying Reality—Part 1.
Denying your circumstances will not change them. As you embrace your invisible disability, you will find courage to commit yourself to adapting and then thriving because of your acquired deficits and limitations — one day at a time.
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