The Unscheduled Wake-Up Call

Welcome to the Monday Morning MIND-set where I'll share one of my original MOTIVATIONAL sayings, provide valuable INSIGHTS, quick tips to NAVIGATE the week ahead, along with some positive affirmations to fuel your drive and DETERMINATION.

In this edition I share how a recent medical event helped me to gain a fresh perspective on life and living. Here's how you can benefit from a few lessons I learned.

Life has a way of making unscheduled wake-up calls.

The side of my face went numb after an online MS Teams meeting. Concerned but not alarmed, I did what every guy does when they experience an unfamiliar event. Go outside, throw some dirt on it, and keep it moving.

The only problem was the numbness subsisted, and after a short while it radiated down my arm. ?Could this be signs of a stroke I wondered? I went to the bathroom mirror to see if there were any signs of my face drooping. Nope…everything seemed normal, yet it didn’t feel normal. Since I was home alone, I consulted my daughter and son-in-law who both happen to be ICU nurses to see what they thought. After all, who wants to spend 10-hours in the emergency room if it ends up being nothing. ?

After some convincing, and at the behest of my loving wife, I wound up at the ER a short time later.

A quick evaluation by the triage nurse revealed a slight deficit on my right side. Things sprang into action and stroke protocol measures began the race against the clock. Then came the decision for me to grant permission for them to administer the stroke treatment medication. There’s a slight chance you could hemorrhage out they informed. And by the way, do we also have your permission to perform life-saving measures if something happens? Wait…what??

How did I go from a Teams call to a life-altering situation in less than an hour?

The care I received from the medical team was outstanding. One member in particular was from the cardiac unit. Her warm compassion and positive attitude were a welcome encounter as she entered my room. Her words created somewhat of an epiphany as she informed, “I’m here to look at the walls of your heart and I’m also going to show you what’s inside.”

My mind raced as I thought about the applicability of her statement. Sure enough, with ultra-sound technology and the wave of a wand, she went through a series of tests while I looked at the screen real-time. I got to see and hear what was happening inside my heart. It was fascinating to say the least, but it didn’t stop there. She went on to perform a “bubble-test” and had a nurse come in to assist. With a rather interesting procedure, she announced that she would essentially blow a puff of air into my heart to see how well it communicates with the other chamber.

I watched in awe as I saw that puff of air expel into my heart on the screen. What’s the purpose of this test I inquired again? She said, this test helps us to ensure that everything is “getting thru” the walls of your heart the way that it needs to. ?This event and her words hit like a ton of bricks. It's interesting how circumstances have a way of showing you what's really going on inside you.

I later learned I suffered a mild-stroke. Thankfully, I have since fully recovered without incident. I did however, realize how life looks way different when you’re the one donning a patient gown. Talk about an unscheduled wake-up call!

MONDAY MORNING MOTIVATION

"Perspective is the ability to leverage eyesight, hindsight, and foresight to see beyond the confines of present circumstances." Rudy Bailey

MONDAY MORNING INSIGHTS

Insight #1 – Challenge your own perspectives!

My initial perspective (to not get checked out) was foolishly mired in denial and stubbornness.

Listening to the perspectives of others can be a real life-saver.

There is GREAT value in challenging your own perspectives.

Question yours by asking questions, listening to other people’s perspectives, and being open to change your point of view when it makes sense to do so.

Insight#2: Things could be a lot worse!

Regardless of how bad your situation is, there is always a chance things could be much worse.

Gratitude is a great way to shift your perspective.

Be grateful (thankful) and try to look for the silver lining. The fact that you are upright and have a pulse is a great thing!

“I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet.” – Confucius

Insight#3: What you think is important and what actually is, are two different things!

All the small things we take for granted are really the big things that matter most.

All the things we think are ‘big things’ amount to nothing more than a molehill when life goes sideways.

The time spent with those you love relationships are the real anchors. No one has ever said on their death bed they regret not spending extra hours at the office.

Insight#4: There is only one you! (Listen up primary breadwinners, those working multiple jobs, and fellow workaholics like me.)

You are not indestructible. Slow down, be gentle and kind to yourself. Cherish your good health if you have it, nourish what you have left if you are working towards changing your health outcomes.

Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. It is also preventable and treatable.

Learn the signs of stroke , and call 9-1-1 right away if you think someone might be having a stroke. Getting fast treatment ?is important for preventing death and disability from stroke.

MONDAY MORNING NAVIGATION - Tips to Navigate the week ahead.

I am sure you’ve heard of the philosophy professor who took his students through the “Jar of Life – Big Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand” story . In short, the professor asked the students at the end of each round, “Is the Jar Full?” He proceeds to add the smaller rocks followed by the sand until the jar is full. The jar being representative of our lives. The big rocks, small rocks, and sand being reminiscent all the tasks we fill our jars with. This story has become the ultimate object lesson on time management and prioritizing tasks.

Here’s my twist to this story:

1. You don’t have to fill the jar! It’s not about squeezing everything into our day to feel more productive.
2. Fill your jar each day with just ONE big rock. That one big priority. The reality is EVERYTHING can’t be a top priority.
3. The smaller rocks can represent your strategy to break big tasks down into smaller chunks and timeline them.
4. The sand is all the little stuff that will just naturally ‘fall in place’ once life balance is achieved.

In sports, each team only has ONE big goal. There aren’t five basketball hoops, or multiple nets to shoot the hockey puck into. There's only ONE.

You can score big when all you have to focus on is ONE big goal.

Wanna increase your productivity this week? ??

Here are (4) questions to help re-frame a fresh perspective:

1.?????? What am I filling my jar with today?

2.?????? What is my ONE big rock today?

3.?????? What are the smaller rocks?

4.?????? What’s my sand?

Ultimately, we create our own order or chaos. Thankfully, we can also be the ones to change the narrative.

MONDAY MORNING DETERMINATION

Here are 7-positive affirmations to help set the tone for your Monday Morning Mindset and power-up the week ahead.

The neuroscience of affirmation states that individuals who practice positive affirmations experience increased self-confidence, self-worth, and fewer harmful consequences of stress on the entire body and mind.

1. I will be grateful for the things I already have in my life.
2. I can zoom out to see the big picture instead of focusing on the part that isn’t working.
3. I value my personal health and well-being over the unrealistic expectations of myself or others.
4. I can shift my mindset when I need to.
5. I am resilient and strong in mind, body, and spirit.
6. I don’t have to get it all done.
7. I will remind myself that asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness.

Until next time, cultivate perspectives that will help you to live a life rich with purpose and deep with meaning. Stay well and have an amazing week ahead!

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