On September 26, 2023 I will be speaking on the topic of “Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury” to the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. Brain Injury Association of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia through the WebEx Platform. To view an outline of the presentation, click on this link: Neuroplasticity, Setting … [Read More...]
Most Recent Blog Article
Self-Acceptance after Brain Injury

Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves Zoom Presentation
Until I was able to move beyond my brain injury awareness, I had no idea how to live or thrive. I had no idea how to thrive because of my brain injury awareness. Did not know how to thrive because I saw brain injury awareness as a “stop sign”, not as a “yield sign”. Yesterday, I published my … [Read More]
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves
I have also created a zoom presentation of this article to share with your group, organization or as an in service to your clinical staff: Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves Zoom Presentation Below are several quotes that encourage me to … [Read More]

Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated, Intimidated and Diminished Living with a Brain injury and an Invisible Disability
I then created a zoom presentation of the article. Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated, Intimidated and Diminished Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Zoom Presentation I then wrote an article to share that helped me to get comfortable. Getting … [Read More]

Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Zoom Presentation
I recently was asked to give a presentation for a day treatment program at a rehabilitation hospital. Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Consequently, I created a presentation to share during this upcoming meeting in January 2023. Below is a link to … [Read More]
Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury
Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Zoom Presentation and Fayetteville, NC Brain Injury Support Group
On September 12, 2023 I will be speaking on the topic of “Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Zoom Presentation” to the Fayetteville, North Carolina Brain Injury Support Group, in Fayetteville, North Carolina through … [Read More...]

Loss of Friends and Family Resulting from Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injuries by Teah Beglau-Davis
This morning I felt led to write this article to share a video presentation shared with me several weeks ago. A video presentation created by Teah Beglau-Davis. I would invite you to watch this short video presentation and share the presentation with family and friends of individuals living with … [Read More...]

Creating Practical Hope in Our Lives through the Power of Identification
In my article, Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves I spoke about what helped me to move from surviving to thriving after my traumatic brain injury. Thriving in my life, instead of merely surviving after my traumatic brain injury. In today's article, … [Read More...]

Updated List of National and International Groups and Organizations Using Second Chance to Live as a Resource
Over the course of the past 16 years, the below national and international groups and organizations have used and included Second Chance to Live as a useful resource. As a resource through my presentations, publications and placement in their resource section. Scroll down to view an updated list of … [Read More...]
Creating Hope after Brain Injury

Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability
I also created a zoom presentation of this article, which I am available to give to your group or organization. Click here to Schedule. To view the outline of the zoom presentation, click on this link: Somethings to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an … [Read More...]

Second Chance to Live Resources to Create Hope Lost after Brain Injury
After a brain injury many things seem lost. Hope seems lost. For 39 of nearly 56 years, I lived my life not knowing how the impact of my brain injury and an invisible disability affected. Affected my life and well-being. Consequently, I lived my life trying to not be impacted my brain injury and … [Read More...]

Facing Adversity and Having Options when Life Does Not Make Sense
I have been thinking about my life and adversity. I have been thinking about my relationship with the God of my understanding. Through my recovery process, I have come to realize that at times I was angry at God. I was angry at God because I was unable to see beyond my perspective of life and … [Read More...]

Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury Power Point Presentation and Rehabilitation Hospitals
On February 15, 2023 I have been asked to give my presentation, "Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury and Stroke" with the Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC through the zoom platform. Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After … [Read More...]
Finding Purpose after Brain Injury
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came Zoom Presentation
Several weeks ago I wrote the article, Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live -- Answering the Call that Never Came. To make the information available to individuals who learn better through watching and listening, I created a video presentation of the article. Yesterday, I put the … [Read More...]

Living with Right Frontal Lobe Damage and a Guide to Living Our Purpose
Yesterday I published the article, Living with Right Frontal Lobe Damage and a Decision that Changed my Life. In today's article I will share what I discovered that helped to guide me to living my purpose. Living my purpose as an individual living with the impact of right frontal lobe … [Read More...]

Public Speaking; Book Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA — Second Chance to Live
My name is Craig J. Phillips. I am a rehabilitation counselor, a nationally known speaker, an author, advocate and creator of Second Chance to Live. I encourage brain injury recovery by involving the whole person in their ongoing recovery process To read my Bio, click on this link: Biographical … [Read More...]

An Important Question that I NEED to ask Myself, “What do I really want?”
To watch and listen to a video presentation of this article, click on this link: An Important Question that I NEED to ask Myself, “What do I really want?” Video Presentation An important Question that I NEED to ask Myself, as I go about my business is, “What do I really want?”. Asking this … [Read More...]
Fulfilling Dreams after Brain Injury

Achieving Our Dreams, One Skill and One Skill Set at a Time, One day at a Time
This morning I was thinking about some thing that my martial arts instructor encouraged students to do at the beginning of each class. Work on one skill during each class. To not be overwhelmed by trying to learn too much, too quickly. What my martial arts instructor shared before class has … [Read More...]

Second Chance to Live Video Playlist and the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association Video Resources
Second Chance to Live 429 Video Presentations Playlist and the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association video resources Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association Videos Click on the link and scroll down. Second Chance to Live Video Presentation Playlist Click on the desired video … [Read More...]

Consider the Spark of Your Greatness after Experiencing a Brain Injury
Living with a brain injury and an invisible disability can leave us feeling stuck. Stuck like a mouse in a box. Consider the Spark It only takes one thought to spark a fire to set us free from the "box". Living with a brain Injury and an invisible disability can lead us to believe that we are … [Read More...]

Living with a Brain Injury,The Wizard of Oz and Looking Behind the Curtain Video Presentation Series
Last night while surfing through television channels I came across a classic movie, The Wizard of Oz. The movie reminded me of my experience of living with a brain Injury and an invisible disability and wanting to find answers. When I saw the movie title, I was reminded of an article that I had … [Read More...]
How to Stop Feeling Helpless after Brain Injury

How to Stop Feeling Helpless after Brain Injury — List of Articles
In my experience, I needed to make changes to stop feeling helpless. Stop feeling helpless after my brain injury. Changes that helped me to create hope in my life after brain injury. In my experience, I stopped feeling helpless after my traumatic brain injury when I became willing. Willing to … [Read More...]

Creating a New History after Experiencing a Brain Injury or Stroke
Below article is in follow up to my zoom presentation. Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Presentation As I have shared, I believe that an ongoing brain injury recovery process needs to involve the whole person. What makes the person who they are through … [Read More...]

Schedule the Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Zoom Presentation
Several days ago I wrote and published an article, Living with a Brain Injury, Holiday Stress and What to Do? in the article I shared an article and a video presentation series that I wrote and created in November 2014, Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New … [Read More...]

Living with a Brain Injury, Holiday Stress and What to Do?
Several years ago I wrote an article series. Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years article series I then created a video presentation of the article. Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years video presentation series I wrote the … [Read More...]
Celebrating Success Following Brain Injury

Make Your Life Magical after Brain Injury Poster
Click on the poster to ENLARGE Please feel free to share these posters with anyone to whom you believe could benefit. Make your Life Magical One day at a time! To view my 37 posters, click on this link: A Selection of 37 Posters Created to Inspire You and Me with Hope and Empowerment … [Read more]

Living with a Brain Injury and Ingredients for Success
Living with a brain injury changes many things in our lives. The good news is that these changes do not have to limit us. Instead, we can use ingredients to create success. Create success, to create a good life, despite the changes in our lives. Ingredients for Success Hard work or … [Read more]

Looking at Success in a Different Way after a Brain Injury
To watch and listen to a video presentation of the article, click on this link: Looking at Success in a Different Way after a Brain Injury Video Presentation. Succeeding after a brain injury can seem out of reach. But instead of being discouraged we can do something different. We can begin to … [Read more]

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Illusion of Failure Video Presentation
“When progress becomes the goal, failure becomes the illusion.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA In June 2007 I wrote an article. Last night I offered the article to different social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Today, I will create a video presentation of the article for individuals who learn … [Read more]
Relationships following a Brain Injury

Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Zoom Presentation
Several days ago I wrote and published an article, Living with a Brain Injury, Holiday Stress and What to Do? in the article I shared an article and a video presentation series that I wrote and created in November 2014, Brain Injury, Stress, Anxiety, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Shortly … [Read More...]

12 Ways to enhance our Lives, Well-beings and Relationships after Brain Injury Video Presentation (Revised)
In my experience and through my process I discovered a set of ways. A set of ways that have helped me in my ongoing brain injury recovery process, one day at a time. These set of ways may also help you in your ongoing brain injury recovery process, one day at a time. Inch by inch, life’s a … [Read More...]

Having and Maintaining Friendships and Relationships after a Brain Injury
Having and maintaining friendships and relationships after our brain injury can leave us feeling baffled. For some reason friendships and relationships change. These changes leave us frustrated and feeling alone. Because of our frustration and feeling alone, accepting what we don't understand can … [Read More...]

Being Mistreated by Someone Close to Us after a Brain Injury
Several days ago I received a comment in response to my article, Discovering Our Super Power after a Traumatic Brain Injury. The individual shared that they were frustrated with being shamed and blamed by someone close to them after their brain injury. Someone who is close to them who shames and … [Read More...]
Overcoming Bullying after Brain Injury

Solutions When Dealing with Difficult People and Bullies
In my experience living with the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability I needed to develop solutions when dealing with difficult people and bullies. Over the past several days I wrote and published a 2 Part article. Brain Injury, Vulnerabilities, Bullying and Intimidation. Here … [Read More...]

Freedom From Feeling Excluded Part 2 Video Presentation
Several days ago I created the video presentation of Freedom From Feeling Excluded Part 1. In today's article I will offer Part 2 of the video presentation of Freedom from Feeling Excluded. In the event that the information that I share in this 2 part video presentation helps you, please let me … [Read More...]

Freedom From Feeling Excluded Part 1 Video Presentation
Several days ago I wrote and published a 2 part article, Freedom From Feeling Excluded. I published this article in 2 parts to make reading the article more manageable. In today's article, I am going to present Part 1 of the article in video format. I create video presentations of my articles to … [Read More...]

Beyond Feeling Excluded — Are You Being Bullied by a Individual or Group?
Recently I wrote a 2 part article series, Freedom from Feeling Excluded. I would invite you to read both parts of this article as I explain how to exclusion takes place, through the use of labels, stereotypes and stigmatization and "boxes". If you have not already read the 2 Part articles, I would … [Read More...]
Brain Injury Recovery — An Ongoing Process

Second Chance to Live 16th Anniversary and A Guide to Navigating the Resources
On February 6, 2007, after 7 years of searching to find a way to use my gifts, talents and abilities; at the encouragement of a friend, I created Second Chance to Live. You may read the complete back story of Second Chance to Live by clicking on this link: Comprehensive History of Second Chance to … [Read More...]

Empowering Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Poster
This is the 20th Poster that I have created for Second Chance to Live, Empowering Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Poster. I thought I would share the poster with you. What I need to remember is that I have more power than I may realize. More power to succeed in my life. By using our … [Read More...]

Although You May Feel Stuck at Times, Don’t Give Up!
To listen to and watch the video presentation of the article, click on this link: Although You May Feel Stuck at Times, Don’t Give Up! Video Presentation In life, my friend, we may feel stuck. We may feel stuck because of what does not make sense. Make sense to us. Consequently, we may want … [Read More...]

Brain Injury Recovery, Second Chance to Live, and Celebrating 1800 Articles
This article marks the 1800th article that I have written for Second Chance to Live since February 6, 2007. Back Story My name is Craig J. Phillips. I was in an automobile accident with my Dad, Mom and Brother when I was 10 years old in 1967. I sustained an open skull fracture with right … [Read More...]
Peer Support after Brain Injury — We Are Not Alone

Empowering the Individual, Not the Brain Injury
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. I am happy to have you around my table. Thank you. Following a brain injury, once external wounds have healed; individuals can feel helpless. What was once familiar becomes foreign. Living with what is foreign can leave the individual … [Read More...]

Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network — Empowering the Individual, Not the Brain Injury
The Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network serves individuals globally. Serving Individuals in the United States, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands … [Read More...]

Article Resources for Living after a Brain Injury
As I have shared in a recent article, I redesigned Second Chance to Live in my desire to make information more accessible to my readers. In working this re-design I made the titles of my article categories more descriptive. The below category titles, when clicked upon will open a list of articles … [Read More...]

Second Chance to Live and the North American Brain Injury Society 2015 Conference on Brain Injury
In April 2015 I had the privilege and honor of being invited to attend the 12th Annual NABIS Conference on Brain Injury to be held in San Antonio, Texas by David Seaton of LiveOak Living Community. Chas Haynes of NABIS was kind enough to waive the conference fee so that I could attend the … [Read More...]
Finding and Knowing Peace After Brain Injury

Do I want to be right or Do I want to be happy? Video Presentation
Several days ago I wrote Do I want to be right or Do I want to be happy? Today I would like to share the article with you in video format. I create video presentations of my articles to make the information available to individuals who learn through listening and watching. I wrote this article to … [Read More...]

Moving From Fear to Faith — Solutions
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a day of workshops. One of the workshops title was, Moving from Fear to Faith. During the introduction by the work shop leader and in subsequent discussion some great points were shared. Several of the ones that stood out to me were: Faith is a … [Read More...]

What Helps me to Overcome Anxiety
When I am anxious about some thing I have found that it helps me to write it down. Once I have written on a piece of paper what I an anxious about, I need to ask myself several questions. Am I powerless over the issue that I am feeling anxious about at the present time? If the answer is yes, I … [Read More...]

Trading Frustration for Serenity Video Presentation
Yesterday, I published this article. Today I will make a video presentation of the article for individuals who learn through watching and listening. Below is a brief excerpt from the article. I would encourage you to listen to the complete article, as I share some awareness’s. Here is the … [Read More...]
Future Presentations (Zoom Presentations)

Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury Presentation to the Brain Injury Association of Virginia
On September 26, 2023 I will be speaking on the topic of “Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury” to the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. Brain Injury Association of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia through the WebEx Platform. To view an outline of the presentation, … [Read More...]

Some Things to Consider so We don’t Stay Stuck Living with a Brain Injury Zoom Presentation and Harvard University
On August 19, 2023 I will be speaking on topic of “Some things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability “to the Harvard University Synapse Brain Injury Support Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts through Zoom. To view an outline of the … [Read More...]

Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope Presentation to the Charlotte Area Brain Injury Network (CABIN)
On Mary 16, 2023, I will be presenting on the topic of "Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury and Stroke" to the Charlotte Area Brain Injury Network (CABIN) in Charlotte, North Carolina through Zoom. This presentation will help you to create hope in your life and … [Read More...]

Synapse National Future Leaders in Brain Injury Conference — Second Chance to Live
On April 22, 2023, Saturday, I will be a panelist at the, Synapse National Future Leaders in Brain Injury Conference!. This is a free one day conference that is hosted by Synapse National The parent organization for all Synapse University Chapters throughout the United States. University … [Read More...]
Past Presentations (Zoom Presentations)

Somethings to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Zoom Presentation to the Brain Injury Services Adapt Clubhouse
On August 9, 2023 I will be speaking on the topic of “Somethings to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability" to the Brain Injury Services Adapt Clubhouse in Alexandria, Virginia through Zoom. Practical Hope – Realizing that I can … [Read More...]

Somethings to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Zoom Presentation to the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana
On August 2, 2023 I will be speaking on the topic of “Somethings to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability” to the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana in Mandeville, Louisiana through Zoom. Practical Hope – Realizing that I can … [Read More...]
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury Presentation to the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina
On May 11, 2023, I will be speaking on the topic of “Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury” to the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina statewide Support Group in Raleigh, North Carolina through Zoom. To view an outline of the presentation, click on this … [Read More...]

Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Covid-19 Presentation and Cleveland Clinic Covid-19 Survivor Support
On May 3, 2023, I will be speaking on the topic of, “Hope and the Progression of Living Our Best Life after Covid-19” to the COVID-19 Survivor Support Group at the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital Edwin Shaw in Copley, Ohio though Zoom. To view an outline of the presentation, click on this … [Read More...]