Has your confidence ever been deflated? Mine has! Due to my disability, I walk slowly and sometimes a little crooked. My balance can be off. On this particular day I was walking along, feeling great. I had been complimented by a coworker that my walking was faster. He patiently walks slowly with me to the café every day. He said, “Wow you are really moving today.” And he was sincere and serious. It made me smile. I had been doing my yoga therapy, riding the bike at the gym, walking in the lower level at work and I had my new sneakers on. I was working those muscles; I was balanced. I felt terrific! I felt confident!
Later that afternoon, I headed to the lower level of our office to walk some hallway laps. I was feeling good, strong and “fast”. Then reality hit. I met a coworker I hadn’t seen in ages and he looked worried, concerned even, and asked me if I was ok. He said I looked as though I was limping. My confidence bubble burst. I was deflated. All that confidence I had moments ago, flew out of me. I smiled. I laughed and said I was fine. I kept walking, now self-conscious about my gait and my big, white new sneakers.
I had to stop those negative feelings and force some positive affirmations and feelings back into my being; but it wasn’t easy. I know he meant well. He was honestly concerned, but still, I was bummed that I wasn’t the superstar walker I thought I was. I walk slowly. Sometimes I stumble. But, I had to remember to compare my progress to myself and not to others. The key was that I was faster, stronger and more balanced. I was exercising and feeling good. And I had awesome new sneakers. It didn’t matter how I looked. I felt good.
Now, sometimes I wear a thick, shiny bracelet and I imagine that it is deflecting any negative, deflating comments; just like Wonder Woman deflecting bullets. Really, it helps!
I have to remember…..
Dance like nobody’s watching
Sing like nobody’s listening
Love like you’ve never been hurt
And….Walk as though you have never stumbled!
Finding Abilities 