Your Setback Is Your Setup for Your 2022 Comeback

One year ago I was making amazing progress heading into Christmas 2020 working out and getting in shape. I had dropped 40 pounds.

Then I jammed up my shoulder over the Christmas Holidays last year...

I shared this Facebook post below one year ago about a fluke injury hurting my shoulder trying out a new exercise.??Clearly I was frustrated in my post yet still optimistic thinking it would heal quickly on its own.

Before I go further, I’m curious...

• Have you had a similar injury or recent setback that’s got you down??
• Or perhaps a goal or dream you kinda let go off over the years??

?Let me share a little bit of my recovery and...

... where I believe you can be in 2022 if you're open to it…

To be candid… my situation’s really not over the top…in fact it’s more common than not dealing with smaller challenges that can throw you and I off track.?

That’s where?the real issue is when we allow the everyday challenges to defeat our spirit…this wasn't a tragic accident thank goodness...it was just what it was...a pain in the you know what...

My shoulder injury was starting to get me down. I felt like I was going backwards.

It wasn’t feeling any better?a couple of weeks after I had made that Facebook post. Come January 11th, I went to the Dr. out of??total frustration and desperation.???The pain went from mild to sharp (level 10)…

The Dr.??gave me a cortisone shot and told me if it didn’t feel better in a month he could do surgery.??

‘Surgery?,’??I asked.?

“Yes.” He said a bit too emphatically.

The Dr. also sent me home with a green exercise band and some loose guidance on how to use it which seemed silly to me at the time??-??I honestly chuckled at the exercise band dismissing it.?

Heck...the Dr. sure didn't show much faith in it...

So that exercise band sat on the kitchen counter for a month unused.?

Clearly the shoulder injury was a lot worse than I’d thought – the cortisone shot didn't help at all.??Resting my shoulder wasn’t improving it.??The pain was getting – worse – not better - more acute!

The word “surgery” didn’t settle well with me as a solution. Not one bit.

So, mid - February I picked up the green exercise band that I had laughed at before.??For context, the green exercise band is the easiest of the exercise bands. I was definitely not laughing the first time I raised my arm holding onto the band that I’d attached to a doorknob.

I started 3 days a week moving with the band till I got to 6 days a week.??I started recognizing improvements.??Small improvements.

Consistency and patience became my friends.?

By April first 2021, I felt good enough to go back to the gym.??I wanted to test baby steps with the weights to see if I could work out again – slowly.??

The gym I was going to at the time had some major muscle heads pushing very heavy weights and there I was with my barbell with no weights struggling.???

?My focus was to avoid doing more damage than good.???

My ego no longer cared what the guys grunting in muscle shirts?thought . At this stage in life, I was grateful for the little green band that humbled me and helped me.

Good news was I started seeing slight improvements with very light weights so much so by April 21st, 2021, knowing it would take time, I made a commitment on social media sharing that I’d be back in really good shape for my 55th?B day on October 21st.?

?I was now looking six months out.?I had a tangible goal.

I was seeing progress.

If you’ve followed my journey this past year, you know my shoulder’s now about 99% and I’m in really good shape – at age 55.??(I’ll share my bloodwork results in another post)

With a solid foundation and a healthy shoulder now, I'm hoping to get in even better shape, God willing, in 2022.?I'm taking my measurements January first with new goals in mind.

Back to my questions for you for 2022…

• That goal or dream you want to get done…is it bugging you enough to take even the smallest of actions???
• ?Has a setback made you angry enough to take even the slightest of steps???Honestly, I hope it has …for your benefit.??

When you get to the place where your situation, no matter what it is,??is no longer acceptable…you can then start seeing what’s possible…are you with me?

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Reality is that goal or dream may not be possible for you today.??That’s the truth.?

Another reality is the fact we also know deep down what we likely need to do. Truth is sometimes we let it slide for too long.??

Your small actions today are the first steps to improving your situation or making your goals or dreams possible in the next year or two…maybe even in the coming months.?

You might surprise yourself.

One final reality – there’s no better time than now to start mentally.?

Start taking action…before January first!!!??

Use that momentum to take the first steps?now?going into the New Year.

?To an amazing year in 2022.??

?Get moving!??

?Ewell

P.S. I’m excited to see what 2022 brings for us utilizing two things - that one mindset tweak and that one simple habit – consistency and patience.

P.P.S. ??Drop a note below or DM me…what’s your goal or dream to work towards in 2022???

#absolutelymindset?

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