When I had my bike accident two and a half months ago, many people said they couldn’t believe how much strength I had—physically, mentally, and emotionally. When my mother fell and broke her hip last week, everyone said the same thing. I realized then where I learned how to “soldier on” through adversity.
The day I took a tumble over the handlebars of my bike, I forgot to bring along my cell phone. Not only that, I didn’t think anyone was home to come get me. So I did what I had to do. I got back on the bike and rode home—with a face covered with road rash, a hole in my upper lip, a broken tooth, and cuts and bruises. I also drove myself to the hospital.
When my 91-year-old mother fell outside the front door of her home while watering plants, she wasn’t wearing her LifeLink button. In 95-degree heat, she pulled herself up a step, across the door ledge, and into the house (after opening the door). She then reached up to a tall piece of furniture to retrieve her button and call for help.
When I heard what my mother had done, I knew exactly why I was able to get myself home after my bike accident. I learned how to deal with adversity with courage and determination from her!
Taking care of my mother after the accident has required a different type of fortitude. Long days and nights, patience and compassion, handing work at odd hours, and being away from home and my family. And for my mother, it has meant pushing through pain, lack of mobility, and loss of independence.
Even without an emergency or accident, you life may feel hard—too hard. Every day my clients tell me how they didn’t meet their objectives because of “whatever” life issue or situation “got in the way.” Just today one client told me she had a “crazy week,” but in comparison to my week there was nothing crazy about it.
Crazy, difficult, scary, painful…it’s all relative, especially if you compare your situation to someone who is in a more difficult one.
In fact, you can do much more than you think. My mother thinks she cannot heal or walk again. She can…if she continues to have the fortitude.
What do you focus upon? The pain and difficulty or the possibility of being out of pain and finding ease and peace?
Your mindset determines so much of how you deal with what life throws you. My mother said, “I made it to that button because I had to. It was what I had to do to survive.”
Now she needs to focus upon getting home, regaining her independence, seeing her dog…And she will. She has fortitude.
I rode my bike home because it was the only way I could see getting to a car and the hospital. Then I focused on healing my scars and body. As I healed I managed to do other things, even get a coaching certification just a week and a half later—not because I’m Super Woman but because I really wanted it and would have had to wait another year to do it. I had to do it then. I wanted to do it then. I focused on how to accomplish that despite my situation. I have fortitude.
More often than not, the things you have to do are not about life and death. You can do them. You have the ability, courage, and strength. You are stronger than you think.
Look at the models around you and find the inspiration, courage, and strength from them if you can’t find it within yourself right now. But you can find the fortitude to do what is necessary.
If you want to find your fortitude, I’d be happy to discuss how High Performance Coaching might help you fulfill your potential and live your life with more clarity, courage, energy, productivity, and influence. To set up a 1-hour FREE High Performance Coaching session, click here. Then download the free session application, and submit it. I’ll contact you to schedule your session time.
