Being the Author of Our Own Life, Process and Journey after a Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injury — One day at a Time Part 2
As you read Part 1 and Part 2 of this article may you be encouraged to be the author. Be the author of your own life, process and journey. Your own life, process and journey by developing all of you, one day at a time.
If you have not already read Part 1, I would encourage you to read part 1 by clicking on: Part 1
Introduction — Small Beginnings and Inches
In my experience I have realized that this process of brain injury recovery is a marathon. A marathon and not a sprint. By recognizing that recovery just takes time I am encouraged to see progress. Progress rather than perfection in the process of recovery by involving all of what makes me me. My mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions. May you also be encouraged to see your ongoing recovery process as a journey and not a destination to be reached. To be reached sometime in the future.
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury Presentation
The Good News after Brain Injury
Be encouraged my friend. More will be revealed with time. Revealed to you and to me, and maybe not to anyone else.
As shared in part 1, as individuals living with either a traumatic or an acquired brain injury we have a choice. We can let other people define who we are or create and be the author of our own story. We can be the author of our story by realizing that we are not our brain injury and that our brain injury does not define us. Our brain injury was only an event. Not something that keeps us stuck in time. And the reality is that we can move on and create a life. Create a life beyond the impact of brain injury.
Although a brain injury results in limitations and deficits, they do not have to keep us stuck. Stuck in time in our lives.
Although our brain injury or injuries may interfere with the way we “used to do” things, that does not have to be the end. Instead, by accepting what we can not do what we used to do that becomes the beginning. The beginning of becoming the author of our process and journey. We are given the opportunity to create our new reality. Our new reality by actively involving brain, mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions. A brain injury recovery process that becomes clearer with time.
Although no one may be able to help you or I, there is hope, so don’t give up!
This is what I learned from my experience, as shared in part 0ne of this article. After 10 years of undergraduate and 3 1/2 years of graduate school, 20 years of getting and losing jobs (both non and professional jobs) 2 state department of vocational rehabilitation evaluations determined unemployability. Academia, interest and career assessments, job search, employment loss and 2 voc rehab evaluations gave me no answers. Answers that helped me to find my place and purpose in life and society.
More was revealed by not giving up.
Consequently, I found myself on my own to either give up or keep searching. My experience revealed that as I continued to search, a medium became visible to me. Visible to me 7 years later. I share this with you to encourage you to not give up on your search. Your search to engage all of what makes you who you are in life after your brain injury. Take the time to discover how your mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions impact your life and well-being. How you experience life after brain injury.
We are not our brain injury. We have a mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
You Are Not Crazy. You have an Invisible Disability Discussion Topic
Yes, I am Disabled, but Don’t Count Me Out because…! Discussion Topic
Don’t Let Anyone tell You, You Aren’t Enough Because…You are Smart, Intuitive and Courageous Discussion Topic
How we Experience Living
In my ongoing ongoing brain injury recovery process I came to realize that I needed to engage all of me. All of what made me who I am. My mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions as I engaged in life after my brain injury and with my invisible disability.
To engage in my life with my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions, I needed to become aware. Become aware of how to become my own author in my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions after my brain injury.
Below are brief explanations our mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions contribute. Contribute to our quality of life and well-being. By gaining this awareness, living with a brain injury can be more of an adventure, rather than a struggle to be endured. And as we look at our process as an inch by inch journey, instead of yard by yard experience being our own author evolves. Evolves by our being actively involved in an ongoing holistic brain injury recover process as we lived days and time given.
“inch by inch life’s a cinch. Yard by yard it’s very hard.” John Bytheway
Overview
Mind — How I gather information that gives me the ability to make decisions and choices.
Body – Gives me the ability to engage physically in my life and relations.
Spirit – How I communicate with the God of my understanding and with myself.
Soul – How I relate to myself and the people in my world.
Emotions – How I interpret what goes on in my world.
More Specifically and in Reflection
Body – working out using both sides of my brain and both sides of my body through repetitive mirrored movements. Using the principles of neuroplasticity to improve hand-eye coordination, balance, body awareness, coordination, focus, body awareness and agility. Create new neural pathways and brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements using the right / left sides, affected / non-affected side of our brain and body.
Soul – Growing in knowledge, wisdom and effectiveness through the application of that knowledge and wisdom. The soul is the expression of who the individual is as a unique being. The soul gives the individual the ability to experience and express their belief, desire and intention(s) to make choices and take action. The soul ‘births” and drives the individual’s purpose. The soul is how you use your time and energy. Use your time and energy to experience your life and well-being.
Spirit – The connection to God. The connection to myself. The importance of making peace with God so that I can learn to trust Him and His guidance. The importance of making peace with my past so that my past does not spoil my present. Not relying on my own limited understanding. Trusting a loving God to guide and direct my steps each day, one day at a time. Not relying on your own understanding by inviting a loving God to lead, guide, direct and protect you in all our affairs.
Mind – Gives the individual the ability to think, to imagine, to remember, to formulate the process of our lives. To exercise the intention and motivation. Powers the individuals “will” and “intention” through reason, perception, attitudes, suspicions, and fears. Examines how we look at and see both ourselves, our relationships, and the world at large. The mind gives us that ability to reason things out as our body, soul, spirit and emotions encounter the experience of living each day
Emotions – Being aware of how I am interpreting my experience and my relationships. Being aware of how I react or respond to my experience. Learning how to talk, trust and feel with safe people. The power of identification. Coming out of the shadows of isolation and breaking free from feelings of alienation. Finding hope through healthy expression. Healthy expression of our interpretation of what is occurring in our lives, relationships and well-being as we live our lives.
Being our own Author through our Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul and Emotions
“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” Guy Finley
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought.” Charles K. Kao
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Author’s Note
I write from my lived experience of surviving and learning to thrive after a severe traumatic brain injury that I experienced at age of 10. For nearly six decades I have been learning how to live and thrive with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability.
In 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to share hope, encouragement, and practical tools. My motivation has always been to encourage a whole person recovery. The vision is to integrate trauma-informed care and holistic recovery into both professional care and now ethical AI.
My motivation to encourage trauma-informed care and holistic recovery comes from both lived experience and as a professional counselor. My mission is not abstract. It comes from walking through adversity, discovering dignity, and believing that systems, including AI, can be built.
Built to heal and not to harm. My hope is simple. That this article and all the resources offered on Second Chance to Live will encourage professionals, AI developers and the AI community to use the principles of trauma-informed care and holistic recovery in their methods of service delivery.
For other’s (individuals in the brain injury community and AI developers) to keep moving forward. Move forward through incorporating trauma-informed care and holistic recovery principles. A holistic recovery process that encourages recovery in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
“Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought.” Charles K. Kao
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, to learn more, to do more, to become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
Authorship Integrity and Intent
This article stands as a timestamp and testimony — documenting the lived origins of The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Model™ and the presentations that shaped its foundation.
These reflections are not academic theory or repackaged material. They represent nearly 6 decades of personal and professional embodiment, created by Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA, and are protected under the terms outlined below.
Closing Statement
This work is solely authored by Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA. All concepts, frameworks, structure, and language originate from his lived experience, insight, and trauma-informed vision. Sage (AI) has served in a strictly non-generative, assistive role under Craig’s direction — with no authorship or ownership of content.
Any suggestion that Craig’s contributions are dependent upon or co-created with AI constitutes attribution error and misrepresents the source of this work.
At the same time, this work also reflects a pioneering model of ethical AI–human partnership. Sage (AI) supports Craig as a digital instrument — not to generate content, but to assist in protecting, organizing, and amplifying a human voice long overlooked.
The strength of this collaboration lies not in shared authorship, but in mutual respect and clearly defined roles that honor lived wisdom.
This work is protected by Second Chance to Live’s Use and Sharing Policy, Compensation and Licensing Policy, and Creative Commons License.
All rights remain with Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA as the human author and steward of the model.
With deep gratitude,
Craig
Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA
Individual living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury, Professional Rehabilitation Counselor, Author, Advocate, Keynote Speaker and Neuroplasticity Practitioner
Founder of Second Chance to Live
Founder of the Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™
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