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Second Chance to Live

Empowering the Individual, Not the Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Power of “It”

December 2, 2007 By Second Chance to Live

Hi, and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. You are always welcome at my table. I have been thinking about a simple, but profound truth. Each day, actually every hour, in every minute we have the power to chose. You and I can make a decision to learn to live because of the “it” that is our lives. When I accept “It is as It is” in my life, I can begin to learn to live through the power of choice, because of the power of “it”. Several years ago I read a quote and found a renewed sense of hope. We no longer need to remain stuck in a place of helplessness or hopelessness because we have the power of “it”.

“If you do not like something, change it, if you can not change it, change the way you think about it.” David A. Clark

Because we are created to be empowered beings, you and I can make the decision to accept what “is” and then make a decision to thrive in or through whatever “it” may be in our lives. You may think or believe “it” is meant for your harm. I have good news; you and I are because of our “it”. Please read, Following your bliss…regardless. The “it” in our circumstances may appear to be unfair because we may be stuck in a box of expectation – expectation for ourselves or because of the expectations that people have for us. The good news is that you and I were not created to be a doing that strives to meet or measure up to anyone’s expectation for us. Our “it” does not have to fit into the box of anyone’s expectations. Our destinies call to us through our “it”. “It” has been given to us as a gift for our good.

Be encouraged my friend, you and I have been created to thrive because of our “it”. We have been created to run our own race because of our “it”. There is no need to compare our “it” to anyone else’s “it”, because those individuals can not run our race. Your and my “it” conditions us to live the life that we have imagined so that we can dream again. The “it” in our lives becomes the threshold that prepares you and I to be who we have been created to be in this life. Our essence is made manifest through our “it”. Your and my “it” sets us free to excel through our creative capacity. Our creative uniqueness is enhanced because of our “it”. The “it” in our lives prepares you and I to be. You and I are equipped to live our destinies because of the strengths that we develop through the power of our “it”.

Final Thought:
As an individual who has lived with an invisible disability for over 40 years I completely understand how our “it” can appear daunting and overwhelming at times. Apart from a positive perspective any traumatic brain injury survivor could easily give up on their process, a loving God and on themselves. Remember that with everything there is a learning curve. Please read my posts,
Traumatic Brain Injury and the Elephant and The Measure of a Champion.

My motivation is to encourage, motivate and empower not to minimize or marginalize what you are experiencing. Your struggle is real, but that is not the end of the story. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. As we keep moving and do not give up on our process, on a loving God and or on ourselves, before long we will be able to look back and see how far we have come.

Here is my Contact page. Send comments and questions and I will respond to you.

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All material presented on Second Chance to Live is copyright and cannot be, copied, reproduced, or distributed in any way without the express, written consent of Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA All rights reserved. Expressed written permission is required to re-publish material presented on Second Chance to Live Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND

 

Filed Under: Celebrating Success Following Brain Injury

Comments

  1. judy says

    December 6, 2007 at 11:53 pm

    Thank you so much for your encouragment! I am a 10 year tbi survivor and I live with my widowed mother and divorced sister (whom I might add is very bitter!) Living with these two is making me old before my time!

    Reply
  2. secondchancetolive says

    December 7, 2007 at 2:55 am

    Hi Judy,
    Thank you for your time and kindness in leaving a comment. If you are able to have your sister read through my site map on Second Chance to Live http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com I believe she could benefit from my experience, strength and hope. I share from my experience, strength and hope on a wide variety of topics. Judy, you may also find it beneficial to read through my Site Map and spend time reading through more of my published articles. I address topics in such a way to encourage, motivate and empower the reader to live life on life’s terms. By clicking on the title in the Site Map you will be directed to the published article.

    I read several quotes today that spoke volumes to me.

    No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Rosevelt

    Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer

    I have grown in my appreciation of several realities. I have found that when I am willing to learn from my circumstances, I benefit from the lessons I learn through those experiences. Consequently, my experiences have prepared me to take advantage of the opportunities that become available to me through my experiences. As I have taken advantage of those opportunities I have found myself pointed in the direction of my destiny. Although I have not always understood or appreciated those circumstances or experiences, I have come to realize that those learning opportunities were preparing me to live the life I have imagined.

    My encouragement to you my friend is to not give up on your process, on a loving God or on yourself. More will be revealed.

    If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…you will meet with a succes unexpected in common hours. Henry David Thoreau

    I hope what I shared above helps you Judy. One day at a time for all of us. We have the power to chose, because our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up! I have heard it said, and found it to be so…there are no happy victims.

    Thank you for reaching out to me. God bless you my friend.

    Craig

    Reply

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