Knowing, Understanding and Celebrating Success after Brain Injury
I share the below with you, because I had no idea how to know, understand or celebrate success after my brain injury, for many years. As you read this article and the invest in the information presented that you will be able to know, understand, and celebrate success after brain injury.
Like a Carrot Dangled out in Front of Me
For many years I had a difficult time knowing and understanding success. What success looked like and how I could experience success. To me success was like the proverbial “carrot“.
A “carrot“ that dangled just out of reach. And like a horse, motivated to get “the” unreachable so was success to me. Something that motivated me, but something I could never seem to reach.
An Experience that Opened my Eyes
Years ago, I had a friend who tried to teach me how to do things on my computer. Because I did not catch on to what and how he was teaching me, my friend became frustrated and even angry with me. This left me both frustrated and depressed because I was not able to learn from him.
This cycle of him trying to teach me and my not learning went on for quite a long time, until… Until I realized neither he or I was at fault. He was doing the best that he knew how to do and I was doing my best to learn. Nevertheless, I was not learning, and needed to find another way.
In my search to find another way, I discovered that I learned by watching You Tube videos. By watching YouTube videos and following patterns that I saw used. By repeating what I saw done in these videos, I began to learn. Learn things that my friend was unable to teach me.
The process taught me, as my martial arts training would later reinforce that I needed to learn through repetition. Learn through repetition because of my difficulty in being able to learn sequences of information. Doing things over and over again until I was able to execute skills.
Reclaiming My Identity after Brain Injury
Brain Injury and the Power of “I CAN”: A Holistic Recovery Presentation by Craig J. Phillips
How Neuroplasticity Supports Brain Injury Recovery: Learning and Relearning Skills
The Backbone of Trauma-informed AI is Trauma-Informed Care AI and Holistic Recovery
Discovering Our Learning Style is Very Important
As I have shared, because of difficulty working as a Master’s level rehabilitation counselor with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Florida, I was made a client. Made a client at the same time that I was still working as a counselor with the DVR of Florida.
See this link for more detail: Finding Craig — My Brain Injury Awareness Part 5
As a client of DVR, my counselor sent me to Good Will Industries to have several tests completed. One of the tests completed at the time involved testing how I learned. To find out if I was a visual learner, an auditory learner of a kinesthetic learner (watching, listening or doing).
Traumatic Brain Injury, Learning Styles and Activities of Daily Living
Although at the time, I had no idea how important determining my learning style would be, I would strongly encourage. Strongly encourage anyone who has experienced brain injury to be tested. Have their learning style tested, as understanding how they learn will reduce frustration.
Craig J. Phillips | Brain Injury Advocate & Rehab Counselor
Reflection Summary
The challenge: For many years, I couldn’t recognize success — it felt like the carrot out of reach.
The turning point: I learned that success doesn’t come from reaching the carrot; it comes from discovering how I learn and how I grow.
The insight: Real success after brain injury is not a single achievement but the ongoing ability to learn in my own way.
The invitation: I offer my eBook so others can walk that same process — discovering their learning style and reclaiming success at their own pace.
An Invitation
I have created a video presentation eBook to share more information on what has helped me. Has helped me to know, understand and celebrate success after my brain injury 58 years ago.
I would invite you to purchase a copy of the eBook. Watch and listen at your own rate and pace.
To see a full list of my other eBooks (video presentation and written eBooks):
Second Chance to Live: 20 eBooks to Inspire Holistic Brain Injury Recovery
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