This blog is the first post in a series called ‘Sharing Notes On What I Learned’ series. I am sharing notes on what I learned from being injured.
Chances are, at some point in your life, you have been or will be injured.
Much can be learned during the process of healing.
Storytime- When I was in college, I sustained an overuse injury from the triple jump, long jump, and sprinting.
I can remember being so frustrated.
I didn’t know what was going on with my body or how long it would take me to rejoin my teammates, performing at the level I was used to.
Here are my notes on what I learned from being injured:
1. Acceptance is a Step Toward Healing.
In many cases, when we get injured, we do not accept the injury right away, so we prolong the healing process.
Instead of allowing for healing, we stay in a state of frustration, and we may try to do more than we can.
The hardest thing about being injured is the acceptance that you have this injury, and it means you will have to take time away from the activity and performance level.
Acceptance looks like allowing this moment to be what it is.
“Stress is caused by by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there’.”
-Eckhart Tolle
*Tip* be present, do the best you can to focus on each moment, one step at a time.
2. Self Care is Essential
Taking care of your body means understanding there have to be periods of rest and reflection. Listening to your body yields clues.
- Firstly Maybe we got injured because we were overtraining.
- Second, Maybe be got injured because we were neglecting weakness in the body.
- Third, Maybe we got injured because of stress.
*Tip* foam roll, stretch. Give attention to your body daily. Take pleasure in it.
3. Share With Supportive, Encouraging People
When you are injured and discouraged, that is the most important time to be around supportive people.
Being injured can be frustrating, and not everybody is going to understand.
*Tip* Share your experience with people who are encouraging and willing to listen.
4. Healing is a process.
Healing may take time, space, and some adjustments to your routine.
*Tip* To aid in healing, develop a recovery plan that outlines a care routine.
5. Being injured is an opportunity to learn more about yourself; heart, mind, and body.
My injury made me realize how much I love to be playful and independent. I recognized how much enjoyment I got from being an active participant on a team.
*Tip* Journal what you are learning from the experience of being injured.
Writing can be very therapeutic.
6. Some injuries seem to linger in the body.
When I ask clients over 40 about their exercise history,
they often tell me about a knee or ankle that was injured in high school and never the same afterward.
It is not uncommon for the area to improve significantly with the right combination of exercise and self-care.
I have had the privilege of helping several clients improve limiting physical conditions. The recipe was
positive self talk + consistent exercise + self care routine
*Tip*. Do not limit your body with your mind; never give up on healing.
Today, I fully recognize how important it is to appreciate my body, and I never take it for granted.
My exercise routine is balanced.
I do yoga, resistance training, cardio, and foam rolling which has significantly improved the condition of my affected hip. I use what I have learned to help others.
See the video below that corresponds with this post. 🙂
Thank you for reading this post. I would like to know.
What have you learned from being injured?
Please let me know in the comments section below.
Visit my tools page to see items I recommend for self-care.
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