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 invisible disability, with little success. As I became aware of how my brain injury and invisible disability affected my life, I discovered that I needed to change.
With my change I became an actor in my life. As an actor, I began to create hope lost due to my brain injury and invisible disability.
We can Create Hope to Own our Power
“The most common way people give away their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Alice Walker
Background Biographical Information if Interested
Biographical Information for Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA Second Chance to Live
Over the past 16 years I have created resources. Resources that helped me to own my power to create a good life for myself. Resources that may also help you to own your power to create a good life for yourself.
To create a good life, a little at a time, one skill, one skill set, one day at a time.
The Courage to Create after Brain Injury
“Dreams do not vanish, as long as people do not abandon abandon them.” Phantom S.Harlock
“When setting out on a journey, do not seek the advice of someone who has never left home.” Rumi
“Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s OK. You’re here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.” Banksy
“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” Albert ‘Einstein
“Those who danced were considered to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” Angela Monet
“Believe in yourself, go after your dreams, and don’t let anyone put you in a box.” Daya
“Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought.” Charles K. Kao
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” Carl Bard
“I was told over and over again that I would never be successful. That I was not going to be competitive. And the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do is shrug and say, “We’ll just have to see.” Dick Fosbury (Inventor of the Fosbury Flop and high jump gold medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympics)
“Purpose is about a process and a journey, not a destination. I can not know until I know and knowing just takes what it takes. There are no silver bullets or magic potions. By accepting that reality, I am given the gift of knowing. I am given the gift of knowing by trusting the process, a loving God and myself.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Recent Testimonials
Scott R. F. (an individual who has been living with the impact of his brain injury for many years)
Wish this had been around when I got hurt. (Second Chance to Live and the Resources)
Christine Bailey Cleveland Clinic’s Long Covid-19 Support Group
“Thank you Craig for presenting your message of HOPE to our COVID-19 Survivor Support Group! So appreciate the difference you are making in your presentations and sharing your story! Can’t thank you enough for taking your story and turning it into so many positives for other people. You do a GREAT job of interacting with the group and getting them to participate!”
Viki Kind Clinical bioethicist, award-winning author and family caregiver
Even though your brain and life may have been changed by illness or injury, Craig Phillips shares his universal message of hope that you can rebuild and create your second chance to live. Craig has had a profound impact on both my work as a hospital bioethicist and as a family caregiver for six members of my family. My family members have had strokes, dementia, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and other life-changing illnesses. Craig’s insights have helped them find their way through the mental and physical changes they are experiencing.
Craig can help you see a path forward. Life may not be the same as it was before but that doesn’t mean it can’t get better and still have meaning and purpose. Whether you are just now beginning to find your way through a new injury or illness or you have made some progress but are feeling stuck, Craig can help you see a path forward. Walking through the emotional and medical challenges are made easier when you feel understood and empowered. Craig has walked this path and he knows that although we are all coping with different challenges, we share the hope for a new life that is full of joy.
Thank you, Craig, for your inspirational talks.
Amy Jolepalem Synapse National Director of Operations
“Craig Phillips served as a panelist on our community member panel titled, “Navigating the Healthcare System as a Person with a Brain Injury” in April 2023 during the Synapse National Conference Future Leaders in Brain Injury. The conference panel had an audience of about 100 participants, a large majority of these being students interested in pursuing healthcare careers and learning about the impact they could make in the field of Brain Injury Care.
We had reached out to Craig Phillips because he was spoken highly of as a valued community member of our University of California Berkeley Synapse chapter’s peer support group. As not only a community member, but a distinguished speaker, author, and counselor, Craig seemed like an ideal panelist. Craig was indeed enthusiastic in our conference preparations, made excellent suggestions that enabled us to structure a more effective panel, was well-prepared, and expertly shared his perspective during the panel discussion on advocating for the brain injury community through the lens of his own recovery.
He not only conveyed a passion for empowering individuals who face similar struggles, but offered an impactful perspective as he did not have doctors to help him after his traumatic brain injury, and yet was able to forge ahead and fulfill his personal mission to share hope after his injury and help others. His devotion and insight to this cause shone through during the panel discussion and inspired many of our audience members.
After the conference, we received feedback that many felt he was able to galvanize students to contribute their efforts to the care and advocacy for people with brain injuries, especially within the healthcare field so others receive the care and resources Craig did not have and obstacles he continues to face as he lives with an invisible disability. Craig is a valued member of the Synapse community, and we hope to work with him in the future!”
Synapse National Conference Future Leaders in Brain Injury Testimonial from being a Panelist
Scroll down this page to click on the links to access these resources.
Background Information
Second Chance to Live Author’s Autobiography in Bullet Points
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call
Translate Second Chance to Live
To give non-English speaking and reading visitors to Second Chance to Live I have created a tool. A tool to translate into a variety of languages. To translate Second Chance to Live, right click on the below desired language link. Then click on open link in new tab. The select from English to your desired language
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Articles, Video Presentations, eBooks, Slideshow Presentations and Posters
2092 Article/Video Presentation Links within 13 Peer Support Categories
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 450 Video Presentations Playlist
Second Chance to Live 12 eBooks for Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery
41 Posters to Inspire, Encourage, Motivate, and Empower
21 Power Point Presentations Public Speaking Availability
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 49 Video Presentation Series Playlist
Second Chance to Live — 20 Brain Injury Recovery Slideshow Presentations
Building Your Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 30 Video Presentation Playlist
See Testimonies and Endorsements for Second Chance to Live
Categories Designed to Encourage and Empower Individuals to Create Hope
Category Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category How to Stop Feeling Helpless after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Brain Injury Recovery An Ongoing Process — List of Articles
Category Self-Acceptance after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Celebrating Success Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Creating Hope after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding and Knowing Peace after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding Purpose after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Fulfilling Dreams after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category My Journey Living with a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Overcoming Bullying after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Peer Support after Brain Injury — We are Not Alone — List of Articles
Category Relationships Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
The Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network
Sharing Hope through Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills/Skill Sets
How I Use Neuroplasticity to Create Neural Pathways/Brain Reorganization
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke Presentation
Sharing Hope through Public Speaking
Some of the places where I have presented.
Cleveland Clinic, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Carolinas Rehab, Colorado Department of Education, the University of North Dakota, University of California at Berkeley, Harvard University and Columbia University, Synapse National, Organizations and Conferences.
Since June 2020, I have spoken publicly at 117 events with upcoming events, addressing a variety of ongoing brain injury recovery topics to inspire hope.
See the below outlines of these topic presentations.
To Schedule me to share one of the below presentations, click on this link:
Schedule my Availability to Share Hope
Presentations Created and Designed to Inspire Hope
Finding Purpose and not Giving Up after Brain Injury
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury
Facing Adversity and Having Options When Life Does not Make Sense
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury
Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support
Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process
Second Chance to Live and Succeeding Beyond my Special Needs from 10 Years of Age
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came
Empowering Current and Future Professionals in Brain Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation
Getting Comfortable in Our “Own Skin” Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability
Believing in Ourselves through Self-Advocacy — A Guide to Owning Our Power after Brain Injury
Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated and Intimidated by my Brain injury and Invisible Disability Presentation
Encouraging the Creation of Hope through Neuroplasticity
My Process and Journey with Neuroplasticity
I have been using different martial art disciplines for the past 26 years to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization (neuroplasticity) through repetitive mirrored movements.
Benefits
To improve and enhance muscle memory, coordination, agility, body awareness, hand/foot/eye coordination, precision, dexterity, spatial orientation and balance on both the right and left side of my body.
Develop Your Own Program
For more information to develop your own programs to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization click on the below link.
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets
The Process and Goal
The goal has been to improve my ability to mirror the same abilities on both the non-dominant side (left side) of my body with the dominant side (right side) of my body. As in the below demonstrations, I engage both sides of my body (my hands, arms, elbows, legs, knees, and feet).
I engage both sides of my body to improve my gross, fine motor skills and muscle memory. I engage both sides of my body to improve my dexterity, hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, stamina, precision, focus and awareness. I engage both sides of my body to improve my skills and abilities.
I engage both sides of my body to improve and enhance the quality of my life and well-being. I engage both sides of my brain and body to create.
Create Your Own Program
In the event that you have not begun, I would encourage you to create a program. Create a program that will empower you to create neural pathways and brain reorganization. Brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements on your dominant and non-dominant sides of your body. Brain reorganization to improve and enhance your quality of life and well-being.
My Program
In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 I was fortunate to have had several individuals record presentations.
Because of a shoulder injury and Covid-19 I was not able to record in 2019 and 2020.
To see my progress over the years (from 2013-2022) see below.
Neuroplasticity through Martial Arts 2013
Neuroplasticity Demonstration August 2014
Brain Injury, Neuroplasticity and Personal Gains August 2015
Balance and Coordination through Repetitive Mirrored Movement 2016
Brain Injury Recovery and Repetitive Mirrored Movements 2017
Improving Our Brain and Body’s Ability to Excel after Brain Injury 2018
Due to a shoulder injury I was unable to create a video presentation in 2019. Due to Covid I was unable to create a video presentation in 2020.
Stick Fighting, Knife, Western Boxing & Wing Chun Drills Created
September 2, 2021
Transition Drills to Improve Agility, Focus, Speed & Coordination Created
September 6, 2021
Hand Eye Coordination and Precision Drills using Fine Motor Skills Created
September 12, 2021
Using upper and lower body coordination and movement to improve focus, agility and balance of upper body and lower body martial art skills. Created February 14, 2022
Our Facebook Community — You are Welcome to Join
Several years ago I created a Face Book Community, The Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Community.
I would invite you to join our community by clicking on this link and asking to join.
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