We all know that when it comes to progress towards life goals, slow is better than stop. If we stop, (or simply never start) then we will never reach our desired destinations; forget about going beyond to set ever-new objectives. Chronic illness and pain pose huge impediments to moving forward in life. Many people simply find a holding pattern and hope that their symptoms will eventually miraculously resolve, allowing them to progress. However, the reality of many types of pain and disease often have these people stuck in limbo permanently. The world will not wait for them, just like it will not wait for you. It will always move forward. If you stand still, then by default, you will actually be moving backwards in life, which is never a good thing.
The old story of the tortoise and the hare is a valuable lesson for chronic pain sufferers. However, we must change up the scenario slightly in order to best illustrate the point. In our story, the tortoise is of course you: the person who is suffering from pain. Meanwhile, although not a race technically, the hare seems like everyone else in society who is able to accomplish whatever they want without the burden of pain or disease. In essence, there are many hares going merrily about their business, while the tortoise feels mired down by it own lack of physical functionality, motivation and suffering.
In the original story, the tortoise already knows its weaknesses when compared to the fast rabbit. He decides not to worry about the race or his perceived handicaps and simply begins by taking one step forward. He is not sure how it will go, but he is brave and continues to place one foot in front of the other until he crosses the finish line, amazingly ahead of the hare. It should be your goal to become this brave tortoise and not care about your speed or minute to minute progress in comparison to anyone else. Instead, you must focus on your goals, which have been set realistically with expert help from your coach. You must take yourself out of park and allow yourself to shift into first gear. It’s ok if you can only move slowly forward. Remember, any progress is a positive accomplishment when compared to no progress at all.
I can confidently say that there is nothing that you can not do in life. I really do not care what excuses you have in your mind for your inactivity and passiveness. None of these points are valid and nothing will prevent you from moving forward at your own pace. This I promise you. I have seen and helped people advance in life who seemed hopeless, helpless and truly disabled in every way. All they needed was the incentive to start and the natural process of accomplishment took over from there. It is a wonderful sight to behold when a client begins to see their true potential, especially in the face of adversity.
Rome was not built in a day, but it was built. Your new active life will not commence suddenly with a dramatic change. Instead, you must start by simply allowing yourself to roll forward at whatever speed is doable. You will gain momentum naturally, since things in motion tend to stay in motion. You will achieve and will amaze yourself at your capabilities. Best of all, you will autonomously learn to perpetuate this process for the rest of your life. There is no limit to what you can do. Go for it. If you need help, I am always here to get you on the right path. Contact me to learn more about my coaching programs.
