Welcome 2015!
If you are like most people you’ve likely spent a bit of time reflecting on 2014 as you look ahead and start planning goals for the year.
I’d like you to think back to a time when you became aware of a significant goal that someone had achieved? One that maybe you could only dream of? What were the thoughts that were going through your mind at that time?
Now I’d like you to ask yourself how would you feel if you would have known at the same time that they did so despite having a disability (either visible or invisible)? While yes, they would have had some limitations, they had still been able to find a way to work through the challenges and obstacles that had come up along the way.
How are persons with disabilities able stay on track and achieve large goals when they face so much adversity?
I’ve pulled together two examples that will help you in putting together a few pieces of this puzzle that will help in understanding just how two individuals are able to find the inner strength and perseverance to stay on track when the going gets tough.
I volunteer in a brain injury rehabilitation unit at a local hospital where I visit with patients to see where each one is at in their rehabilitative journey. I’m always impressed to see the great amount of progress people can make over the course of just one week.
One patient that stands out is a seventeen year old who is on the fast track in recovering his mobility. He’s gone from being in a wheelchair to walking independently in just a couple of days. I commended him for accomplishing this in such a short period of time. I took more of a scenic route after I sustained a traumatic brain injury and had to relearn how to walk. I went from a wheelchair to a walker and then to a cane before I was finally able to find the strength, balance and coordination in my leg muscles to walk unaided. This took weeks not days and that had nothing to do with a lack of effort or determination on my part! I was going to do whatever it took to make it happen!
I mentioned this to him and said he should pat himself on the back for how quickly he was able to overcome this. His reply stayed with me the rest of the day “I want my independence back!” This is so true. It’s not until you lose the ability to do something as simple as walking independently that you realize just how much you have taken it for granted.
The desire to regain independence was a strong motivator for him as it was for me.
The second example worthy of sharing goes further into what else can serve as motivation to stay on track when facing adversities that many of us, including myself, could not even begin to imagine facing.
I just recently watched an episode of a syndicate television show and listened to Rebecca Alexander, a 35 year old extreme athlete, who shared what drives and motivates her to reach for the stars in all that she does.
She does this despite the fact that both her vision and hearing have been progressively diminishing since she was a teenager.
In fact today she is almost completely blind and deaf.
In the interview I heard her say just how much gratitude she has for the smallest things in life and how she views each day as a true gift. She focuses on what she does have rather than her limitations and takes it all in stride fully aware that one day soon, she will completely lose her sight and hearing.
You can read more of her amazing story on her website, like how she not only instructs spin classes, she also participated in the 600 miles AIDS bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles! In reading her story you will see how strong her spirit it and how with her boundless energy she has accomplished so much in her lifetime, making the most of each day. She also works with others who are facing their own challenges, sharing her inspiring message and providing encouragement. She has recently written a book titled Not Fade Away where she goes into much greater detail. This book is on my reading list.
Her outlook on achieving goals is quite simple and she sums it up well when she says
“My disability means it may take me longer to accomplish my goals. And I may need more people to help me in my efforts. But, it will never stop me from achieving what I set out to do.”
Both of the examples I’ve shared show just how much of a difference having the right attitude has when you are working towards goals. When you take the time to look at the bigger picture, you might be amazed to see that the benefits of achieving your goal are so much broader than you may have initially thought. One accomplishment can impact your life in ways you may have never thought, whether it be in the moment or down the road.
When I look at people who I admire who have achieved so much after having struggled with a great deal of adversity it’s become clear to me that the only limitations in life are those that are self-imposed.
After reading these two amazing stories, chances are you are feeling a greater willpower and motivation to achieve your goals, resolutions and intentions for 2015. I know I am!
While many people can start the year off full of great ideas on what they’d like to achieve, I know there can be lull periods where life just seems to take over and energy and focus can get zapped. To help you if you happen to fall into this category, I’ve put together a few tips and share a couple of tools that will help you in staying on track. These have really helped me and you can access them here.
Always remember, to achieve any goal you need to ACT – Action Changes Things!
Happy New Year!
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