Not Giving Up On Ourselves after a Brain Injury

In life, events, circumstances and disappointments may redirect our experience. In an instant, like a switch on a railroad, life events can set us in the opposite direction of our hopes and dreams.

In the process our hopes, dreams, and aspirations may be dashed. We may have lost limbs or suffered permanent brain damage. Our damaged brain and body may subsequently limit our abilities.

Consequently, we may be sad, angry or even bitter with life. I want to share something with you that revolutionized my world. Who I am on the inside matters more than who I am on the outside of me.

Body Broken and Battered

My body may be broken and battered by an injury. I may not be as smart as I used to be before my brain injury and disability. And I may be discouraged at times, but that does not change what is on the inside.

The inside of me to be expressed. My passion is the vehicle that gives me the ability to live my purpose. My brain injury, disability, limitations and deficits may present challenges, but they do not have to limit me.

Mechanism that Empowers

My passion resides within my being. My passion provides the mechanism that empowers my gifts, talents and abilities. Because my passions lie at the core of my being, I can learn how to channel them through my creative energy. Express them even thou I may have a brain injury, disability,  deficits and limitations. As I follow, develop and learn to channel my passions, the fruit of my purpose becomes apparent.

My passions are channeled through my gifts, talents and abilities. My gifts, talents and abilities echo my passion. My passions subsequently point me in the direction of my destiny. In the process I experience my purpose. In the process I fulfill God’s will for my life, one day at a time. Although I have deficits and limitations because I am living with the impact of a brain injury I no longer have to be limited.

No Longer Limited

Although you may have deficits and limitations, because of your brain injury and disability, you no longer have to be limited. Consequently, regardless of how you or I came to be disabled, we do not have to give up on our passions. We can learn how to express those passions in ways that work for us. We can learn to experience our lives’ more abundantly. We no longer have to be limited by our specific set of circumstances.

Instead, we can learn to use our set of circumstances to empower our process. We can learn to use our set of circumstances to enhance both our lives and the lives of those people in our world.

“Baby steps turn into miles, when put together.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA

We can learn to express our passion in ways that will work for us. In the process, we will naturally fulfill our purpose. The purpose that gives our life meaning. The purpose that makes life make sense to us.

Today’s Thought

Be encouraged my friend. We are a gift to our world. Our traumatic brain injury/disability is not meant for our harm. They do not have to limit us. Instead, we can see them as a gift to show us the way. The way to follow our bliss through our passions to fulfill our purpose. What we thought was meant for our harm will be used for our good. Our brain injury and disability will direct our lives, like the switch.

Like the switch on the railroad of life to point us in the direction of our destinies. Although I could not see how my traumatic brain injury and invisible disability was to be used for good some 47 years ago, I now know that to be true. I now realize that my traumatic brain injury and invisible disability have given me the ability to use my passions to fulfill my purpose to be of service.

“Service to others is the tent you pay for your room here on earth.” -Muhammad Ali

Be encouraged my friend. More will be revealed to you. Follow your passions. Follow your bliss. Take the time to learn how to express your passions in ways that work for you. And do not give up on yourself or on your process and journey. You are on the right path, so encouraged my friend. You can trust the process, a loving God and yourself. Do the footwork and let go of the outcomes.

More will be revealed to you and to me with time, so don’t give up on yourself after a brain injury.

 Quotes that Encourage You and Me to not Give Up on Ourselves

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” Auguste Rodin

Regardless of your lot in life, you can build something beautiful on it.” Zig Ziglar

“Don’t give up at half time. Concentrate on winning the second half.” Bear Bryant

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” Guy Finley

“It is not that I am so smart. It is just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein

“Believe in yourself, go after your dreams, and don’t let anyone put you in a box.” Daya

“The most common way people give away their power is by thinking that they have any.” Alice Walker

“Decision is the spark that ignites action. Until a decision is made, nothing happens.” Wilfred A. Peterson

“Those who danced were considered to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” Angela Monet

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Don’t judge your day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson