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Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who Am I Behind My Skull

Okay… it’s a lousy title. I couldn’t think of anything to rhyme with wall. At least not anything that conveys the idea of how we really see ourselves.

reflection.pngI’ve had far too much time lately to think about how I see myself and by extension how others see themselves.

It’s really true… the way you look at yourself either limits or releases your potential.

A couple of weeks ago I ended up in a wheelchair for two days while were traveling. My back has been giving me a great deal of grief the last couple months which incidentally is why I haven’t posted in a while. I can’t sit at a desk for extended periods of time and I still have to get my real work done. :smile:

Anyway back to the wheelchair. After refusing to use the chair and trying to walk until I simply could not… I succumbed to the wishes of my family and sat down in the wheelchair so they could maneuver me around. Within a couple hours of first sitting in that chair I had a sudden realization… my mindset had changed. I was no longer fighting the idea, I was enjoying it.

Nothin’ wrong with that you say. And you’re right. I had accepted my reduced mobility.

Instead of trying to walk, it was easier to be pushed around. Something in my motivation and view of myself left me content but it actually scared me. I could see myself staying in a wheelchair. I was confusing resignation with contentment.

At that moment I realized that I couldn’t risk keeping an image of myself in a wheelchair in my head. I had to get rid of the wheelchair in my head before I could get rid of the wheelchair I was sitting in. I had to create the picture, I couldn’t let someone else do it for me.

  • People can overcome tremendous obstacles when they can see themselves past the obstacles.
  • To go where you want to go in life you must somehow see yourself already there.
  • You stay where you are when you see yourself as you are. Not as what you will be!

The bible says that even God calls things that are not, as though they were.

Oh and by the way, I’m not in the wheelchair. In fact I’ve started some new therapy and my back is improving. I even had enough time to post today. :lol:

Let’s try something together. What do you want to be six months from now? How would you describe it? Can you describe it in a comment that would give others a picture of the person you will be? Can you see it?

Let’s talk!

  • http://www.todayisthatday.com/blog/ Aaron M. Potts

    Dave!

    It’s great to see you back up and running – as it were. I’ve been wondering where you disappeared to!

    As far as this post, you are absolutely correct. I love the way you put it:

    “I had to get rid of the wheelchair in my head before I could get rid of the wheelchair I was sitting in.”

    That is profound stuff, Dave!

    With regard to the 6 month vision, a very abbreviated version would go something like this:

    1) Living on the beach in St. Augustine, FL in my own place. An apartment or rented house is fine, although the long-term plan is to have my very own beach party pad.
    2) Having the same scheduling freedom that I have now, but only working 4-6 hours per day. Right now I’m clocking more like 10-12 p/day, 6-7 days per week.
    3) I have kept up with my physical fitness program (3 months straight so far!) and I am in the best shape of my life, but aesthetically, as well as on the inside.
    4) I am happily involved in a passionate relationship with a woman whom I completely adore and respect.
    5) My Internet projects are all radically successful, and I have time to dedicate to keeping them going, as well looking into future products, services, or concepts.

    In fact, now that I’ve written all that down, I feel very motivated to expand on each of those concepts in some affirming statements for myself. See, you just came back on the scene, and you are already inspiring people, Dave! :)

  • DaveOlson

    Aaron,

    Wow! I’ve got to picture myself having the strength to keep up with you.

    I guess I’ll have to get back to you on the 10,000 Fists challenge. Sadly my back issue kept me from finishing my license in time… but just about there. Still far ahead of my original schedule which means that your motivation moved me… yahoo!

  • http://www.steve-olson.com Steve Olson

    Dave,

    Thanks for the link.

    I’m glad you are up and about. I struggle with visualizing who I wish to become, rather than where I am now or where I have been. I’m glad you found a way to accept your situation and then rise above it and overcome it.

  • DaveOlson

    Steve,

    Still working on overcoming it but it’s in process. I sure appreciate your honesty with your struggle. Knowing you struggle is a much better place than thinking you’ve arrived. :smile:

    Thanks for stopping in and joining the conversation.

  • http://www.todayisthatday.com/blog/ Aaron M. Potts

    Dave,

    No worries on missing the deadline for the challenge. The entire point was to get people to focus their efforts, and to realize that an amazing amount of progress can be made in a short period of time when enough effort – physical as well as spiritual – is applied to the process.

    All of the participants that I have heard from have realized that fact and have made some great strides towards their goals. Imagine what will happen if another 90 days is spent with that same level of focus!

    For that matter, imagine 6 months or a year of working diligently towards the same goal day in and day out. The possibilities are astronomical! :shock:

  • DaveOlson

    Yeah but…. I was planning on taking the $100 off of you, Aaron. :lol:

    Don’t underestimate the power of cold hard cash! :razz:

  • http://www.versacreations.net Vivienne Quek

    Glad to have you back finally. I was wondering where you disappeared to as you didn’t blog and didn’t reply to some emails and tags … … which was very untypical of you.

    I cannot say I know how you feel being confined, even temporarily, to the wheelchair. But I certainly can understand the anguish of your loved one. My mum is currently in the hospital and there is a possibility that she might not be able to stand or walk again. At the end of 6 months, I like to see myself stronger and calmer despite the bleakness I’m facing now. Also, I like to see my income increased several times to take care of her additional needs.

    Really good to have you back again. Please take care. :razz:

  • DaveOlson

    Hey Vivienne… sorry if I didn’t respond to your emails. Sitting at my computer has been really difficult and I know I missed some important emails like yours. With my back condition improving, I expect to be “back” on track. :smile:

    Sorry to hear about your mom. Is she elderly? Keep seeing yourself stronger and wealthier… it can happen!