Recovery Strategy

"Is that on your bucket list?" someone asked me earlier that day. Nope. It was never something that I thought I would - no, could do.

Normally, it takes three years to train and learn how to break a board. When I was told I could learn it in 30 minutes, I had all kinds of self doubt.

I was handed a piece of 12 inch pine and asked to put all of my goals - everything I've ever wanted on one side and my limitations - everything holding me back on the other. To say I was intimidated was an under statement. 

When I was told that it was optional, not a requirement for the certification I was there for, my usual motivation strategy - force - went out the window.

I had to want to. 

I watched others, one after another break their boards easily and I wondered if I could. As I got more and more nervous, the quieter I became. I almost gave up. It would have been so easy to slip out of the noisy room unnoticed.   

So I got really focused on the "why". For quite some time, I've felt like I was just on the edge of everything I've ever wanted. The symbolism was so incredibly powerful and that was enough to motivate me to face this fear -  to see if I'm really capable of accomplishing what I set my mind to. 

I stepped up to those cinder blocks and after two failed attempts, I finally broke through the board on the third. To be honest, I'm glad it took me three tries. It taught me about the importance of a recovery strategy: 

• that if you keep focused on what you want, you'll get it. 

• that if you accept the help and expertise of the people around you, it becomes even easier. 

• that when your beliefs and values are aligned with your goals, the outcome is inevitable.  

• that in the end, it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get to where you're going - all that matters is that you did it.  

• and most importantly, to never give up on your dreams, or yourself.

I was shocked when the boards gave way. I didn't even realize it at first. I can't even begin to describe the feelings that overwhelmed me next. It was absolutely incredible. Sometimes we surprise even ourselves with just how much we are capable of breaking through. 

xo Elaine

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