We all have the power within us to make positive changes in our lives that will lead us to greater joy. Yet so many of us have let that power go untapped, and when we finally recognize we have it, we are amazed as to why we didn’t see it sooner.
I want to start by sharing a story about a motivational speaker who was brought into my workplace. At the time I worked for a heavy equipment company in the state of Nevada. I was in the HR department and my job was focused on benefits and safety.
The speaker’s name was Chad Hymas, and if you ever have the chance to hear him speak, or have the opportunity to book him for an event, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. In fact, the Wall Street Journal named him as one the ten most inspirational people in the world.
Chad was brought in to specifically talk about safety to our technicians who worked on machines like the ones found in the gold mines, big haul trucks, so big that the tires alone weighed over 11,000 pounds each. When working on equipment this powerful, the mind needs to be focused, one slip up could mean serious injury or death.
I don’t recall the exact year Chad was brought in to speak, but it was at least 10 years ago. That’s how powerful his message was to me, it has been over 10 years, and I still feel the impact.
Chad’s story is a testimony of love and courage, on how he overcame one of the most life changing obstacles any human being can possibly imagine. In 2001, at the age of 27, Chad was involved in a serious farming accident that left him a quadriplegic, and he went on to become one of the most influential motivational speakers in the world.
And as incredible as his story is, what moved me most was his message. And here is how he presented it.
Chad sat in his wheelchair in the middle of the conference room with two bottles of water placed on the floor in front of him and he asked for two volunteers to assist with a short exercise.
Two technicians graciously came forward and Chad asked them each to pick up one of the bottles of water and open it for him, however, they could not use their hands to do it.
By the expression on their faces, I think they immediately regretted volunteering, but they were both good sports and proceeded with the exercise.
It was hard to hold back a grin watching each of them sprawled out on the floor, the bottle between their feet, struggling to reach their mouth and using their teeth to open the bottle without spilling the water.
They each eventually got their bottle opened, and both seemed quite proud of their feat. Not an easy task for a technician whose job solely revolves around the use of their hands.
Chad then thanked them for participating in the exercise, acknowledged their courage, and commended them both for completing the task.
By this time we were all thinking, what was the purpose of the exercise? What was the real message here? Was it just to show us how hard it was to lose the use of your hands? Another reason to work safely?
But what Chad did next, is what has stuck with me all these years.
He said, “you know, there was an easier way to open that bottle of water without using your hands” and he looked at someone in the audience, and he asked that person their name (lets say his name was John) and he said “John, will you please do me a favor and pick up that bottle of water over there and open it for me”.
John picked up the bottle of water and opened it, and handed it to Chad, and Chad said, “there, I just opened this bottle of water without using my hands, all I needed to do was to ask for help”.
What an incredible lesson of how asking for help can lift us up without the extra weight that comes with going it alone. Sometimes to be safe, our load is easier to carry when we reach out and ask for support.
Over the years, I have learned that safety isn’t just protecting your physical health, it is also protecting your mental health. Things like anxiety and depression are very real, especially now during the pandemic when we are alone and isolated and the world feels like it has been turned upside down.
There have been many times since that talk, where I have found myself struggling, and have looked back to his message and thought, what can I do to ease my burden, who or where can I reach out to for help.
I know it is hard for some people to reach out, myself included. So many times I preferred to go it alone, telling myself, “I’ve got this”, afraid of what people will think if they find out I am struggling. I don’t want to be seen as weak. For years, there has been such a stigma around mental health, and unfortunately there still is, but that wall is starting to break.
Sometimes, to feel better, all it takes is a call to a friend or a loved one to open up to, to say “I’m going through a rough time, will you listen”. Sometimes it takes a spiritual heart to heart with a higher power, and then there are times when it makes more sense to reach out to a health professional.
Repressing emotions can eventually show up as panic, anxiety, and other illnesses which are detrimental to your wellbeing. That’s why it is so important to reach out. Whichever way works best for you, recognize in yourself that you are hurting, and to take that first step.
One organization I personally support is the “crisis text line”. This is a place to anonymously reach out to if you find yourself in a really dark place. A human to talk to, to listen to you without judgement, to bare your soul to. One simple connection can make all the difference in the world.
My friend, if something is keeping you awake at night, keep an open mind, don’t be afraid, be kind to yourself, and find a way to keep yourself safe. You may be surprised at how open people are to help lessen your load. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, it takes real courage to do so.
You have the power in you to live joyfully, to overcome obstacles that find their way into your life, and to heal both mentally and physically.
Be well and stay safe my friend,
Deborah