Welcome back to part 2 of my (Paul’s) story. If you didn’t catch part 1 click here
In today’s post I wanted to share with you some of the lessons I have learnt or have served as a major reminder to me over the past year.
1 – When we are no longer able to change the situation, we are challenged to change ourselves
In the great book ‘Mans search for meaning’ Viktor Frankl chronicles his experience in a Nazi Concentration Camp during War II, describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome.
There are situations in life that we can’t do anything about. It is, what it is. But we can change how we look at the situation and how we react to a situation.
2 – Two men sat behind bars, one man saw mud but the other saw stars
Again, similar to the first point. How we look at things is everything. We get to choose how we show up. A mentor of mine recently ended up in prison as a civil prisoner (long story). He lost money, he lost his business and he ended up in the UK’s toughest prison. He could have been a victim to his circumstances but instead made it his mission to make it a positive experience. While doing his time he wrote a book called The Inside Track – Prisoner or secret agent of change. Peter Sage did inspirational talks for the prisoners, he created an induction book called the new prisoner welcome booklet which has been rolled out in many of the UK prisons and made a significant impact on many of the prisoner and prison staff during his time there.
3 – The more you resist the more it persists
I spent a lot of time resisting my circumstance. Everyday I would try and fight it in my head but resisting what I can’t change is stupid. I had to learn to accept the fact that the milk was split and then figure out how to deal with it. There is no point looking back on what was, on everything I have lost. I had to learn to look to the future not at what I can no longer do but at what can I do.
Life seems to act like a mirror. If I am pissed off at the world, then I shouldn’t be surprised if it gets pissed off at me.
4 – My situation may restrict what I can do but it can never take my freedom
Nothing can ever happen to you emotionally without your permission. This lesson is particularly poignant with our current pandemic situation. Irrespective of what you believe is the ‘right way’ it is good to remember you will always have freedom, if you choose it.
5 – The light of love will always extinguish the darkness of fear
I had some pretty dark days, but there was and still is always hope. Time heals and things will always get better. When you’re in the moment of darkness it can be really hard to see the light. To lose purpose, to lose identity, to lose yourself. But one must remember there is always hope
Bonus point
6 – Don’t take your health for granted
I didn’t think I would get sick. I regularly exercised, I ate well and don’t drink or smoke, my blood pressure and cholesterol are in check, I’m not overweight, I have a resting heart rate of 40. Health and wellness was and still is my life. When our health is great, we tend to take it for granted and it is not until our health is taken away from us that we realise the importance.
I recently went to the Doctors and he said without knowing what is it and speculating, he imagined it would have been a lot worse for me if I wasn’t in such good health. Whatever it is/was, hasn’t spread to my kidneys or any other vital organs.
Make good choices, move well and often, nourish your body, get to bed early, stress less and learn to say no. Health is our foundation. Enjoying the magic with what life brings is always underpinned by health. You can have all the money in the world but if you are not healthy, you will struggle to enjoy it.
Here’s to great health in 2021.
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