Let’s be real, getting injured sucks. Trying to stay positive when you’re injured can almost suck more, but it doesn’t have to. Here are some ways you can stay positive when you’re injured.
Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill or any clear-cut directions on how you can stay positive when you’re injured. Let me tell you a little secret… You have to figure it out for yourself. Sucks, right?
Lucky for you but not for me, I spent all of 2019 into 2020 in some way injured. As I mentioned earlier, getting injured blows. It’s definitely not a skill anyone is intentionally practicing.
Well, after spending over a year now recovering from my accident, I’ve learned a lot. You’re almost forced to at this level, but I have to say I am grateful for it.
I’ve learned countless life lessons, new ways of thinking, and unique methods that helped me stay grounded and focused. Even when things got tough and I wanted to give up I had options to change my thinking around.
Now, I’m sharing with you what’s helped me. When you’re injured, should it ever happen, you’ll know how to stay positive and not give up.
Aromatherapy For When You’re Injured
Start off easy. You practically can’t go wrong with aromatherapy.
You’re wondering, “how will this make me happy or forget about my shitty day?” To put it briefly, aromatherapy techniques work like memory stimulators. Think of a time when you’re really happy or energized.
Take the Christmas season or your favorite coffee shop for example. What do they have in common? Strong connections to unique scents.
Most often when people smell gingerbread or peppermint during the Winter season they get happy. Christmas typically relates to love, family time, time off work, etc. Happy moments.
Take your favorite coffee joint now. Walking in and smelling the beans being ground or roasted, knowing your minutes away from enjoying one of your favorite drinks. You’re excited, happy, and soon to be energized!
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
Scents trigger our olfactory nerve which then stimulates our limbic system. This structure in our brain is responsible for controlling our emotions, memories, and how behavior is reinforced.
Use specific scents tailored to your needs. Some can be stimulating and energizing, while others can be tranquil and soothing.
For more detail on specific scents and how to use them, check out a piece I recently did on aromatherapy and its benefits on men with stress.
You can even watch my partner and I demo how you can make your own aromatherapy devices at home.
Journaling When You’re Injured
Move up the difficulty ladder just a bit now. Journaling may seem mundane. Believe me. I used to think so as well. Now, I swear by it.
When you’re injured you can be a mess of emotions. A lot of which may not even make sense to you depending on how the injury occurred. You need a creative outlet to help you process it all. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be creative. I’m sure as hell not, haha.
Treat it like a brain dump. Write out everything you’re feeling, seeing, and remembering.
It can be challenging at first, but stick with it. It gets easier the more you practice.
Oftentimes, we have trouble being in a good mood because too many negative ones are covering up the good ones. Being able to shift through those negative ones and identify them is what helps process them.
You’ll be able to switch your focus to better thoughts instead of having your head fogged up with the bad. Best of all, there are really no rules for journaling besides doing it.
I found it particularly helpful when I was suffering from a lot of self-doubt and anxiety after my accident. I was skeptical at first, but after a few days, it really felt helpful. Try it out and remember to stick with it. Don’t give up after one day.
If you too suffer from forms of anxiety but are hesitant, read about the potential benefits it could have on your life.
Meditate, Meditate, Meditate
Seriously, it’s the best form of addicting, refreshing, and attitude changing all mixed in one that I have come across.
You don’t have to be all into Zen work to know any fancy words. Nope. Start with breathing. Seriously, just breathing.
One of the simplest forms of meditating is breath focus. How you focus on your breath is entirely up to you. You can count your breaths, control how long they are, or imagine them as colors or feelings throughout your body.
Just like journaling, meditation is super versatile. You can tailor it to work in numerous ways outside of just breathwork. Make it work for you. I’m working on filming my own meditations and how I use them to battle stress to share with y’all.
If you need a little guidance or instruction I highly recommend the Balance App. I started using it when Covid-19 started shutting the U.S. down and it’s been a real game-changer.
Last, but Certainly Not Least
Out of all the methods you try to help you stay positive when you’re injured, you must try this.
Document everything.
The first day with my new haircut since surgery happened
If there’s one thing I wish I would’ve done more of, it’s that. This is saying a lot because I actually documented quite a bit from my time recovering. The beginning is the most important though.
When you’re injured it can be easy to hide and stay to yourself in the beginning.
I was embarrassed, frustrated, pissed, and just about every negative emotion you could think of. I hated myself, how I looked, and pretty much everything else at the time.
Pictures and videos of myself were definitely NOT on my priority list. Especially in the beginning.
As I finally started making progress I took to the camera right away to begin documenting. Don’t waste any time doing this.
You may hate it at first and may not want to, but down the road, you’ll be glad you did.
When you look back on old pictures and videos, you can truly see all of the progress you’ve made. Doing this instills within you confidence and reassurance that you’re on the right path.
It’s hard to see progress daily in ourselves. Check-in weekly or bi-weekly on your old footage. Compare where you are now to the past. This has a profound impact on your confidence and overall emotional well-being. Plus if you’re couch-ridden and stuck at home, it’ll give you something to do in your free time
Check out some of my before and after pics below for an example.
You can see more video footage on my Instagram account by clicking HERE
I always refer back to these when I’m having a rough day. It’s a great reminder of all the hardwork I’ve put in and how it’s paying off even if I don’t see it right away.
When you’re injured don’t give up, stay positive, and keep moving forward.
June 28, 2019, Discharged home in a wheelchair to June 28, 2020, hiking up Piestewa Peak
The day I got to finally go home from the hospital I had to leave in a wheelchair. I was still too weak and unsteady on my own, even with a cane, to make it down the hallway.
Knowing that and seeing myself hike a mountain on that very same day a year later is mind-blowing. Use moments like this to continue to empower yourself.
Use every achievement to your advantage, no matter how big or small. Find pride in yourself and your work.
First Post-Hospital Selfie July 2019 to July 2020
I never posted the first selfie picture until 2020, because of how depressed and down I was at the time. Being able to look back at it now, I can see just how much my body has changed, how I carry myself, and how my hard work is paying off even if I don’t see it every day.
Whether you are tracking how your body changes, your speed, or your strength, document it all. Keep journals of not just your emotions but also your times, weights, you name it.
I have two journals and an excel sheet I update with things like new best walking times. Use numbers to monitor trends and see how you’re doing over time. I’m a big numbers guy so I love keeping track of time, weight moved, etc.
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