Second Chance to Live

Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA traumatic brain injury survivor, master's level rehabilitation counselor, peer mentor, advocate, inspirational / motivational speaker and an internationally published author

Traumatic Brain Injury — Following your bliss…regardless

Posted by secondchancetolive on June 12, 2008

Welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am glad you decided to stop by and rest. You are always welcome around my table. In life, events, circumstances and disappointments may redirect our experience. In an instant, like a switch on a railroad, life events can set us in the opposite direction of our hopes and dreams. In the process our hopes, dreams, and aspirations may be dashed. We may have lost the use of our limbs or suffered permanent brain damage. Our damaged brain or body may subsequently limit our abilities. As a result, we may be sad, angry or even bitter with life. But that does not have to be the end of the story.

Through my process I have learned a valuable lesson. I am not my traumatic brain injury, my deficits or my limitations.

I have discovered that who I am on the inside matters more than who I am on the outside. My body may be broken and battered by my injuries. I may not be as smart as I used to be before my disability. And I may be discouraged at times, but that does not change my passion. I am not my disability, my limitations or my deficits. My passion resides within the core of my being. My passion provides the mechanism that empowers my gifts, talents and abilities.

Because my passions lie at the core of my being I can learn how to channel my creative energy even thou I may have a disability, deficits or limitations. As I follow, develop and learn to channel my passions, the fruit of my purpose becomes apparent. My passions are channeled through my gifts, talents and abilities. My gifts, talents and abilities echo my passion. My passions subsequently point me in the direction of my destiny and in the process I fulfill God’s will for my life one day at a time.

Although I have limitations because I am a traumatic brain injury survivor I am not limited. Although you may have limitations because of your disability, you are not limited. Regardless, of how you or I came to be disabled we do not have to give up on our passions. We can learn how to channel those passions in ways that work for us. We can learn to experience life more abundantly. Our circumstances no longer have to define or dictate who we are in this life. We can learn to use those circumstances to enhance both our lives and the lives of those people in our world.

Be encouraged my friend. Your disability is not meant for your harm. You and I have been given a gift. What we thought was meant for our harm is to be used for our good. As I mentioned earlier, I believe that my traumatic brain injury was a switch on the railroad of my life. Although I could not see how my traumatic brain injury was to be used for my good some 40 years ago, I now know that my traumatic brain injury was preparing me to fulfill my destiny. Through my process I have come to trust the process, because I know that more will be revealed in time.

Be encouraged my friend. Follow your passions. Follow your bliss. Give yourself the time to learn to use your passions in ways that work for you. And please do not give up on yourself or on your process because more will be revealed to you with each new day. You will find your way and you will be empowered.

Only believe. And if you have a hard time believing, believe because I believe. You will learn to use your passions.

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