Recovery Hurts So Good!

Photo credit: Anastase Maragos of Unsplash.com

Recovery Hurts So Good!

As many of you know I’ve been recovering from two broken ankles from a skiing accident in December. The recovery has been long and filled with new experiences, most of which I won’t share with you, lol! But I said I would have to walk the walk (pun intended) and not just talk the talk of my TRIP System because I had no choice.

The current level of recovery is in the resilience phase as I bounce back in the gym. I’ve always been a bit of a gym rat joining my first one after returning from Vietnam in 1971. There is great satisfaction in taking care of my body, staying in shape, and performing at my best physically. 

After I was able to graduate from the walking boots to the lace-up braces, I headed back to exercising as quickly as the pain would let me. I started with a strap system called TRX that I could do at home and a couple of weeks ago started going back to the gym for real leg exercises. I won’t lie, it was hard getting the muscles, ligaments and joints through what used to be a breeze of a session.   Ironically, there is great enjoyment in the hurt that feels so good. The soreness that follows a good workout is a reminder that we are doing something right and to keep going.

During my recovery, I had lost muscle mass, muscles and ligaments were stiff and my joints complained at every step. I was disappointed after my first session as I saw how far I had to go. Resilience is definitely a learned trait both physically and mentally. I knew that I could do the routines I have done for years, but my body had different ideas and they were challenging.

Like our bodies that need to exercise regularly to keep muscle memory fresh, our psyche needs to put resilience to the test frequently so we can react with a positive vision and purpose.  Being resilient in the face of any challenge can be daunting and scary, but if we visualize the outcome we want and the steps to get there it’s easier to tackle.

Being resilient in business facing things like the pandemic, world economic woes, supply chain difficulties, wars abroad, even higher gas prices and inflation make the thought of bouncing back laughable at times. And if that’s what it takes, find the humor in it and charge on anyway. In my keynotes and breakout sessions I offer my Tenacity Creed to help my audiences in tough times…it applies to bouncing back with resilience as well:

THE TENACITY CREED

·       Admit that you want it!

·       Be willing to work for it! (Bounce back)

·       Know that disappointment is a distinct possibility!

·       Do it anyway! (Bounce back again)

·       Repeat!

Markets will rise and they will fall, clients will be happy, and they won’t, planning will go according to plan and then they fall apart due to circumstances out of our control…stay strong and look for the adventure to keep your enthusiasm and energy in the game because you will make it through.

Remember to take a TRIP for a lifetime, not a trip of a lifetime!

In the end, it’s just one man’s opinion, mine!

Keith……