Have you ever heard yourself or another saying?
These are common statements I hear from patients and friends.
Do any of these sound familiar?
People from 25 – 60 make these statements! Many are based on assumptions, myths, and limiting beliefs.
The beginning of my physiotherapy career started with an injury that ended my college athletic career.
I tore a ligament in my knee and had reconstructive surgery which ended my collegiate basketball season in my senior year — basketball career ended.
I know now that going through that rehabilitation led me to apply and eventually becoming a physiotherapist.
Fast forward twenty-five years. I injured my knee for the third time and ended up in a surgeon’s office.
They told me I would likely never be able to do the things I loved again.
No more skiing.
No more running.
No more paddleboarding.
Eventually, when things got too painful, I would likely need a knee replacement.
The stories in my head became very negative. Seem familiar?!?
“I am over forty now – this is as good as it gets.”
“I will never be the same.”
“I can’t do the things I love anymore.”
“What will I do to have fun?”
“I will get fat like my mother when she got sick.”
As I recovered from the acute injury and started tentative steps, I realized I had a choice:
I could listen to the surgeon’s advice and beliefs about my abilities.
Or I could choose to believe that I was in charge of my health and my path back to strength and vitality.
I chose to take charge of my health beliefs and journey.
Great start. Not so easy to put into practice.
Being a physiotherapist, I thought I knew it all. I thought I could do it all on my own.
Instead, I made progress and hit a plateau.
I was not getting better enough to be able to play the way I wanted to.
I finally accepted that I needed help. More importantly, I learned that what I believed about myself was the powerful missing ingredient to my success.
I discovered that, in order to improve my muscular strength and agility, I needed to improve my mindset and my beliefs.
I discovered I was capable of healing, that strength can improve at any age.
I accepted help to strengthen my body and — more importantly — my mind.
It was a long, hard, sweaty, tear-stained road and I was eventually able to return to the play that I loved.
I was back, better than ever before – stronger physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically.
This was also the start of my intentional growth journey.
The biggest shift for me was my belief in myself and my capability.
I am.
Two simple words. Oh so powerful.
I have learned that how you talk to yourself and what you choose to focus on matters.
In one of my favorite books, “Are You Up for the Challenge?”, Rod Hairston teaches about the Four Laws of Focus:
The stories you tell yourself matter. What your brain focuses on grows and eventually you become.
Where in your life have you settled or accepted someone else’s ideas or beliefs about what you can do?
Did you know that every cell in your body turns over and is replaced by a new one? Over and over we regenerate every tissue in your body- even our brain! Even if a part of the brain is injured, other parts can take over!
These processes of renewal and adaptation are called neuroplasticity and bio-plasticity. These allow your amazing body to learn and change throughout your lifetime.
You can strengthen at any age and ward off age-related muscle loss, improve mobility, decrease bone loss, and even help combat depression and cognitive decline.
A 2011 study indicates strength training up to three to four times a week is recommended for people over 60.
Meaningful lifelong physical activity has a profound effect on your quality of life as you celebrate birthday after birthday.
People who live in communities with recorded longevity have similar characteristics:
In Your Greatest Power, Jack Kehoe says that your greatest power is the power to choose.
You get to choose what you believe about your abilities and you know your choices will continue to affirm your ever-expanding capabilities.
Every day you can choose to tell yourself a powerful story and express deep gratitude for your life until it becomes a habit to think this way.
I am strong.
I am capable.
I am vibrant.
I love my body and everything it does so elegantly.
The more you choose affirmative thoughts about yourself, the more you discover your strengths and change your perceptions of your “weaknesses”.
Are you ready to make changes in your life? Start by joining Growth-U’s community for accountability and support, and get ready to discover a new, stronger you.