I’ve recently watched several people go through rehab for major physical injuries and have been quite fascinated with the process.
In all cases, rehab started almost immediately after the injury and progressed quickly into strengthening the body in order to compensate for the temporary loss of the functioning body part. It’s an excruciating and slow process for the patient, but a necessary, incredibly refined and diligent system that the rehabbers follow.
I talked extensively to one friend about the process and asked how she was able to get through it in spite of the unbearable pain and the frustration of having to relearn basic functions. She said the one and only thing that got her through it day to day was the consistent and sometimes over-the-top encouragement from the rehab staff. She said that without exception, they all convinced her that she could do this, and they held her up to the belief they had in her until she herself was able to believe it. Without that, she says she wouldn’t have ever believed that she could get through it. Wow, that’s powerful stuff.
I thought about life in general and how difficult things sometimes are on a daily basis. We often don’t have the belief that we can get through something, whether it be too difficult, too outside-of-our-comfort-zone or we just don’t think we have the strength for it. Imagine the amount of belief we have to have to accomplish even the smallest of miracles. When was the last time we had complete belief that we could accomplish something in spite of the uncertainty? Where the hell do we get that belief, and is it possible to sustain it for as long as we need it?
Unless you have it easily accessible somewhere within, think about surrounding yourself with people who KNOW that you are capable. Lean on them and their belief until it rubs off on you, until you can uncover your own belief in yourself. If you don’t trust friends or family (do they really believe that I’m capable, or are they just trying to make me feel better?), hire a coach who can see your potential and who will sincerely hold you up to the standards they know you are capable of.
