My Life Shake Up & What I Learnt
Three years ago I contracted a dibilitating virus called Guillain Barre and was told I probably wouldn’t walk again. Within two days, out of the blue, I was paralysed from the knees and elbows down and it was spreading fast with a risk of it spreading to my lungs, my eyesight - basically everything vital to the human body.
My mum was told to fetch my daughter to see me while I was still functioning and ‘normal’ and to expect the very worst. Something that still breaks my heart for her, but not for me. Because even in the darkest moments I always knew I would be fine. How?
There is no difference between me and you. I wasn’t particularly fit, or particularly healthy or in fact unhealthy. I do not have a deep religious faith and I did not have a miracle cure. But what I did have through the work I do within coaching was an unshakeable mindset. There was no way I would allow anything to beat me. This stubbornness of mine got me through.
Thankfully I am one of the lucky ones. This is not the case for everyone. I’m thankful to recover and grateful for this body of mine that allows me to play with my daughter, it carries me through life and brings me so much pleasure.
It wasn’t just the physicality that I needed to get past, I was in hospital for two weeks and supported at my mothers home for 6 weeks. Being self employed, it was the financial depletion I had to make up, this was tough. It was the lack of freedom and independence. It was the trauma and shock of going through something so unexpected and bizarre. It was the burden of what it did to the people that love me. Still, today it’s the recovery that I continue to fight regarding energy levels and balance. Plus the low level fear that I could face something similar again and not be here for my daughter.
My point of this is that it is not the terrible things, the trauma, or the bad luck that happens to us that defines us. What defines us is how we overcome the hardships. Then what makes us truly powerful is sharing our journey and helping others along the way.
On the flip side it was also one of the most life affirming things I’ve been through. I had conversations, letters, emails from people containing such sweetness and dedications that are normally reserved for people once they’ve passed. I was surrounded by love.
I was trapped in my head so had time to think about what I wanted from life and how I was going to get it. I manifested, I prayed, I thought about all that was important to me. The answer was very simple; the people I love. Not the material things I’d been striving for, but the people I loved and living life authentically.
In some ways this was a gift. The pause reminded me of what was vital, that I needed more balance in my life and I needed to live honestly, tell people I loved them more, and pack in as much joy as I possibly can, because you never regret the fun!
Life is complicated and the balance can be upset in a heartbeat. Take an honest look at where you are today. What are you truly grateful for? Who matters to you and do you tell them enough? What do you long to do? What would you do if you knew you could not fail? If tomorrow was your last, would you be proud of your legacy? Where are you giving your power away? How are you going to be the best version of yourself and what steps are you taking to get there?
As someone pointed out in my workshop two weeks ago, ‘this isn’t a dress rehearsal,’ there are no encores for anyone.
Coaching can give you the chance to look at your life honestly and clearly. For example, We spend so much time preparing for that two week holiday; we read reviews, we ask for recommendations, we plan outfits, we travel prepared, we invest our time and money making sure we are going to get the most out of those two tiny weeks. How many of us can honestly say we do the same when planning our lives? When we are looking at the next 6 months, year, 5 years and so on . . .
Make sure you are investing in your whole life properly. Grab your life with both hands and make sure it’s a life that your proud to walk in.