Read time 4 minutes
This blog is another opportunity to feel grateful and thank you dear Universe: You continue to bless me with recovery and overall health.
This blog is for the fellows who asked for information on the books that inspired me. Though there are a couple of names that top the list however today I wish to share how ‘Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs that Make You Unstoppable- by Darrin Donnelly’ touched my life.
It was post-diagnosis with Isaacs’ Syndrome (a neuromuscular disease), and subsequently, with chronic conditions like Lyme disease, Glaucoma, and Membranous Glomerulonephritis that I hopped on finding ways to self-help, bring about a change in the old belief patterns and start all over again and what better than taking up a motivational piece to infuse my brain with positivity?
It was the very first sight that connected me with the brilliant concept as author Darrin Donnelly creates a realistic world that pulled me in, right till the end. I was able to relate to the protagonist, his worries, sorrows, fight-back attitude, and other life situations. The book is about a football coach, Chris McNeely whose personal life goes through turmoil, gets bankrupt and is on the verge of losing his job. Even after all the ups and downs, his desire to be successful was incredible. Disappointed yet desperate for help, he receives mysterious visits from legendary coaches in sports histories like Bick O’Neil, John Wooden, Paul Bryant, Herb Brooks, and Vince Lombardi. The intimate lessons he receives from them changed him forever and gets an incredible source of information for the readers.
Reading in general has been a great source that gave a secret hitherto unexplored pathway potential for healing, as I took imbibed tips from the experiences of knights in shining armour, and the things they did differently to sail through, during their crisis and gave me a strong perspective that thinking about the past could not bring about any change in the present and worrying about the future could only increase the feeling of insecurity. Research has proved that a person’s mindset plays a crucial role in making or breaking one’s life. Thinking of the initial days still gives me goosebumps when there were unending challenges and limited means of information however getting engrossed in something as constructive as reading an inspirational piece supported my well-being and reinforced the magic words, ‘Awaken the dam warrior in you’. In my experience, the non-clinical support was simple and stress-free, and consequently more useful. I was always curious to try alternative therapies and never cared whether it was sourced from some ancient medical literature or a test tube as long as they demonstrated some healing qualities.
I related to Chris with similarities: –
- Did these changes break him as a person? Was he terrified? How did he perceive the situation and become the person he did? – while reading there were many moments when it felt that both Chris and I were answering these questions together.
- The post-diagnosis time period was physically and psychologically tough when every moment felt that life had ended without giving me time to finish the unfinished.
- Experiencing a life crisis is never easy: each day was a new discovery, letting go previous unpleasant experiences.
- I liked the fact that Chris is not portrayed as superhuman. Like many of us, he comes across as a non-fictitious character with normal emotions of anger, frustration, worry, and desperation to overcome failures.
- I stopped thinking like a victim, took charge, and was successful in turning the wheels by transforming situations that were given to me.
- Though change is inevitable, I constantly reminded myself of not undertaking any overlong joyride instead, I was doing something purposeful without losing the zest to recover.
- Even, I have a fancy for sports.
My Learnings & Implementation:
- The author leaves a subtle message and assures his readers that anyone who promises a warrior-like quality can experience noticeable changes in life situations. Yes, fighting tough situations gave me the courage to move forward with treatments and ultimately, well-being.
- A ‘Warrior’ is not an extraordinary character and is approachable by the ordinary, only if one works hard and shows Therefore, I continue to fight back from a bedridden situation to being an independent man today.
- Accepting the situation: – No blaming others and taking full control of the situation. The first step towards regaining my mental equilibrium was to accept and try balancing the emotional upheaval accompanying my failures and look to tackle this personal catastrophe with a positive attitude. My diagnosis taught me to reinvent and puzzle over mistakes instead of dwelling on the things I got right. In the process, I discovered that my biggest strength was my mental flexibility.
- I got more passionate about my daily activities: the entire cycle connected me to my truth and that’s how I started to create awareness of rare health conditions through Ordinarily Rare.
- When I let go I might become whom I want to be: – hopelessness can be overcome with significant effort.
- It is important to focus on things we can control and work diligently towards with a fearless attitude.
- I understood the importance of being a positive influencer in the family and shared the positive side of my health.
- All of us perceive thigs differently, what may work for one may not work for the other therefore it’s important to find our way by taking lessons from the past successes and failures.
Although many experiments on how to strengthen our mental health are happening around the globe, I felt it was time to take up individual initiatives to combat my situation and do it all with flair.
My bottom line: We can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
