Posts Tagged ‘injury’

Switch: How Can Getting Injured Be Good For You?

Monday, November 15th, 2010

How can this be good?

How can this be good?

If you asked me this question a couple of years ago, I would look at you sideways and maybe even attempt to give you the backhand smack.

There is no situation where being injured can be good for you!

Right? Or is there?

Before I move on, I encourage you to read Switch: How To Change Things When Change Is Hard (Chip and Dan Heath) which is a book that got me thinking and looking at things differently. I t allowed me to look at some negative situations from a positive outlook, being able to see what good can come out of it. Powerful stuff!

First off, I suck at being injured! I can be sour a lot of the time and not that nice to be around. I’m a hyper person, so taking away my ability to do what I want when I want to (a.k.a. restrictions) made me anxious and irritable.

I used to be that way anyway. This time around it has been different. (more…)

The Shark Theory

Sunday, August 10th, 2008

The reason that I am writing this is because of a very bad bout of food poisoning this morning. I thought I would have to go to ER and I have been completely paralyzed for the majority of the day. I am thankful that it is much better but I will have to take it real easy for the next couple of days or maybe even the whole week.

This had got me thinking how much I hate not being able to be physicaly active. This is probably one of my biggest fears and I dread sickness and injuries because they prohibit me from doing what I love (a lot of injuries we can work around but that is another post). I feel that in many ways I am like a shark – if I stop moving I will die!  

So many times we take health for granted and it is only when something goes wrong that we say: "If I could, I would take better care of myself". This goes for athletes and people in general. When people have to start taking medications they always complain but it was their lifestyle that caused this situation (in most cases). Just like the athlete that has a season ending injury because he/she did not pay attention to correcting weaknesses and doing the extra things to keep themselves healthy.

So no matter what your situation is right now, you should pay more attention to your health and wellness because you will regret it when it is too late in many cases. So, try to keep the shark theory in mind – if you do not keep moving in a positive direction you will have issues. Take this into consideration with health,business and any other endeavor.

 

What Is Your Weakness?

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

You are only as strong as your weakest link, especially when it comes to athletic performance. So can you honestly say that you are focusing on and improving your weaknesess?

A good friend of mine who is also a great basketball player had never really payed much attention to strength training, mobility, basically enhancing performance through other areas other than the actual sport specific training. I had warned him that it is a mistake and that it would hurt him in the long run but he replied that he has never had issues and that he was feeling fine and playing well. This was all true, but all the dysfunction adds up……

This year he has had multiple injuries and he is dealing with a a chronic injury that is putting his career on hold. It is all a result of years and years of repetitive movement, minimal, un-serious off season training and not paying attention to his weaknesses. This is actually making me emotional just talking about it because I love this guy (he is one of my best friends) and I feel for him but he knows he needs to get his mind together. It is not too late for him but it has literally taken a full season out of his career (and hopefully not more). I know of players that have had to end their career because of similar issues!

Don’t let that happen to you no matter what your profession is! Make your weakness your strength and continue to amplify the strengths that you have. Yeah, I know it’s hard but do you want to be mediocore or do you want to be great, do you want a short carreer where you ask yourself if you could have done more or do you want to look back at all the great things you have achieved giving it your all and not letting things happen by chance? If you are not willing to bust your ass then you shouldn’t be reading this anyway!

What is your weakness? How are you going to make it a strength?

Teddy Roosevelt once said: “You can’t choose your potential, but you can choose to fulfill it.” You can’t fulfill your full potential if you are not working on your weaknesses!

P.S.  Sometimes it takes someone to help you identify your weakness and also help you fix it. Be open to constructive criticism, it wil only help you out.