I listened to something last night that said if we didn't use the unique opportunity we have now to work on what matters then it never really was or is a big priority for each of us. 

Do you agree with that statement? 

You see she said all the excuses that we would ordinarily use have been taken away during lockdown. So, if we didn't take action on what we want without the normal distractions then it couldn't have been that high on our priority list. 

For so many clients, I think it's more complicated than this though. For so many, they really want to do it but lack the internal drive and self-motivation to do this alone without support. Is this the case for you?

There are many clients who following a stroke or head injury need the support, guidance and structure of doing things jointly to be able to work around this. 

You see, time and time again I have seen how depending on what part of the brain was affected by the stroke or head injury, a client's motivation and drive to self direct their home rehab can be influenced. 

But this can also happen in Multiple Sclerosis

So many clients have said: "I know I should do some exercise. I know my body needs it, but I just can't get the motivation to do it by myself"

Have you ever said this to yourself? 

Have you wondered whether your motivation or lack of motivation has influenced what you are achieving with your mobility?

But there is also another concept that influences this.... Our value system.

For each of us, we have an internal set of beliefs and values that influences what we act on and what we don't. What do I mean by this?

For example, a few years back, I took the value test. The top 5 values are the ones that are the most important to you, and that you would move heaven and earth for.

My Top 3 were

1. physical health and wellbeing, 
2. nutrition, 
3. my work as a physio and being of service to those who need help and support, 

Here is another thing, as you grow and change, so can the order of values. Once I did this, I saw how my values influenced the actions I prioritise on a daily and weekly basis and how easy it was to focus on those. I understood, why I am so passionate about helping others and why it's so easy to get up an extra hour to make sure my body has all the fuel and nutrients it needs to function and support me during my work and day to day activities. 

If showing up for yourself is not something that comes easy and natural, then have you wondered where on your value list it is ranked. 

If it is lower on your list, ask yourself, how can I still support myself with help from a therapist to support me with achieving my mobility goals? 

Because even though you want to work on it, if it's not ranked in the top 5, then it will require more effort, discipline, support and accountability to make it achievable.

Are you the kind of person who needs someone to tell you or guide you what to do and when?

you need someone present to make sure you are doing your exercises?

If you are, there is nothing wrong about this. It is about using this information about yourself to your advantage. It's about using this information so you can figure out how you can show up for yourself more and what support you need in order to achieve your mobility goals.

You see, I see working on your mobility as essential as it influences everything you do in life. Right or wrong, this view will be different for each of us? One of my client's told me at the start of lockdown, "I need you to do my physio exercises with me daily during lockdown, because I know myself. I know I won't do it if you are not there telling me what I have to do! If you are not there Natalie, it won't work. I won't do anything." 

It took courage to admit this to herself. 

What has been so amazing, was watching the incredible changes and progress her body had made, how her movement has improved, what she can do physically now, how she has overcome her mental limitations of what her body can do in physio and finally that she can see how her body has changed, and the multitude of improvements she has made especially her brain-body connection.

You see it's about how you can turn a weakness into a strength. So the question I have for you is, do you need help and support in order to show up for yourself more? 

If the answer is yes, it's not about making yourself wrong. It's about whether or not you are open to going it alone or with help and support right now.

• You see ultimately it comes down to choices
• You get to choose what you want in life
• You get to choose what you will and won't do to get what you want 
• You get to choose your level of commitment and action you will take to achieve what you want
• You get to choose how much effort you will put into getting what you want 
• You get to choose if you are willing to be helped and guided and the level of help you want to achieve your mobility goal 
• You get to choose whether your mobility goal is a nice to have or downright essential for you (and I say this with no disrespect to anyone) 
• You get to choose how you show up for yourself now that you have a neurological impairment 

Ask these questions from a place of curiosity and not from a place of self-judgement. It's just information that you get to use 

So with your mobility, what is your body asking you to do? Is it asking you to show up more for yourself? 

So if you realise that you would like help and support with showing up for yourself or you realise you thrive and achieve more with support or when someone holds you accountable to yourself and the goals your self out for yourself, then reach out and let's see how we can help you

Love and Blessing

Natalie x

Click here to sign up and join my free Movers and Shakers Facebook Group

If you want to continue to progress on your arm or leg rehab right now, then click here 30-Day Rehab Program Series