(I posted a version of this a week or so ago which was accidentally deleted – I’m reposting it due to popular demand. Well, Kath asked for it anyway.)
I work with a real action man. He’s ex-military and has pushed himself to overcome serious challenges to achieve some pretty amazing feats. A few years ago he broke his neck, yet he recently rowed the Atlantic and is now gearing up to run the equivalent of 45 marathons in 45 days. Bonkers.
Anyhow, we aren’t really friends but when he learnt about my diagnosis he sent me a really supportive message including his own coping mechanisms, which I thought I would share with you to use (or ignore) as you wish.
He says:
• Play what you see in front of you, don’t get bogged down with things that haven’t happened yet and don’t waste time on what could happen. Concentrate on the here and now
• Focus 100% on the mission
• Have no outside distractions
• Visualise every conceivable scenario and how you are going to deal with it
• Distance yourself from negativity
• See humour in what you are doing, even in tough times
• Be confident in your own ability. It’s ok to be arrogant here!
• Always have something to make you laugh/smile
• Make a list of things you are going to do when this is all over and then make sure you stick to your list
I’m not quite as ‘ruffty-tuffty-grrrr’ as him so I would add one more of my own; “Be kind to yourself. Allow yourself the odd wobbly moment, just don’t surrender to fear.”
By the way, ‘Ki Kaha’ is his motto. It’s Maori for ‘go hard’ (!). I am now picturing us all fronting up to CC with an All Blacks style ‘haka’…
