Episode 4: Acceptance & Self-Compassion
“I had… to accept what was going to be. If I was going to go back to being as active as I had been or if I would need to reinvent myself.”
“I redefined [my life] and my expectations were different… I have a good life!”
“Life is still good, even when there is sadness.”
– Mayelly Alexandra Casal, LMHC, MCAP
Therapist Mayelly Alexandra Casal (Alex) was at her peak level of fitness when a freak accident broke her ankle in 3 places. As a result, Alex endured years of surgeries and rehab and was confined to a wheel chair for 6 months, unsure of whether she would ever regain full use of her leg. Stay tuned for Alex’s emotional account.
This experience taught Alex some important life lessons.
· She became more sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities. For example, being in a wheelchair made her realize that the disabled ramp in her office needed to be updated.
· Alex had always considered herself to be a humble person, till she was confined to a wheelchair for six months and says that was when she truly learned the meaning of humility. From the vantage point of her wheelchair, she experienced pity, indifference and often felt invisible.
· She says that she had to hold on firmly to the concept of who she was; “I’m still me, I’m not my legs, I’m not my body… I continue to be me; it’s just that I’m sitting in a wheelchair.”
· When faced with the uncertainty of whether she would ever regain full strength in her leg, Alex drew on the resilience she had gained some years prior, from her experience with infertility.
· She applied the principle of ACCEPTANCE in her life; to “accept what was going to be”.
· The principle of ACCEPTANCE may involve having to redefine your goals.
· Grief comes in waves, therefore SELF-COMPASSION - the ability to see your own pain - is an important coping skill to have.
· “Life is still good, even when there is sadness.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Addictions Professional Mayelly Alexandra Casal is the founder and owner of Centered in Self Counseling and Coaching Services, LLC. Alex believes that learning to love ourselves, despite our imperfections, is a powerfully healing tool. Her tag line is “Loving yourself is not about being self-centered. It’s about being centered in self.”
Get the book “Reflections of a Hopemonger” on Amazon: Reflections of A Hopemonger https://www.amazon.com/dp/9988902301/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q8NW4C08KNF95M6HVVF5
Click below to download my FREE document “A Powerful Strategy to (Re)build Hope in Challenging Times”. https://mailchi.mp/b1b7ab9b9829/powerfulstrategytorebuildhopefreebie
Episode 4: Acceptance & Self-Compassion
“I had… to accept what was going to be. If I was going to go back to being as active as I had been or if I would need to reinvent myself.”
“I redefined [my life] and my expectations were different… I have a good life!”
“Life is still good, even when there is sadness.”
– Mayelly Alexandra Casal, LMHC, MCAP
Therapist Mayelly Alexandra Casal (Alex) was at her peak level of fitness when a freak accident broke her ankle in 3 places. As a result, Alex endured years of surgeries and rehab and was confined to a wheel chair for 6 months, unsure of whether she would ever regain full use of her leg. Stay tuned for Alex’s emotional account.
This experience taught Alex some important life lessons.
· She became more sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities. For example, being in a wheelchair made her realize that the disabled ramp in her office needed to be updated.
· Alex had always considered herself to be a humble person, till she was confined to a wheelchair for six months and says that was when she truly learned the meaning of humility. From the vantage point of her wheelchair, she experienced pity, indifference and often felt invisible.
· She says that she had to hold on firmly to the concept of who she was; “I’m still me, I’m not my legs, I’m not my body… I continue to be me; it’s just that I’m sitting in a wheelchair.”
· When faced with the uncertainty of whether she would ever regain full strength in her leg, Alex drew on the resilience she had gained some years prior, from her experience with infertility.
· She applied the principle of ACCEPTANCE in her life; to “accept what was going to be”.
· The principle of ACCEPTANCE may involve having to redefine your goals.
· Grief comes in waves, therefore SELF-COMPASSION - the ability to see your own pain - is an important coping skill to have.
· “Life is still good, even when there is sadness.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Addictions Professional Mayelly Alexandra Casal is the founder and owner of Centered in Self Counseling and Coaching Services, LLC. Alex believes that learning to love ourselves, despite our imperfections, is a powerfully healing tool. Her tag line is “Loving yourself is not about being self-centered. It’s about being centered in self.”
Get the book “Reflections of a Hopemonger” on Amazon: Reflections of A Hopemonger https://www.amazon.com/dp/9988902301/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q8NW4C08KNF95M6HVVF5
Click below to download my FREE document “A Powerful Strategy to (Re)build Hope in Challenging Times”. https://mailchi.mp/b1b7ab9b9829/powerfulstrategytorebuildhopefreebie