I spent a week on vacation, having a great time. The day after I got back from vacation, I was sick as a dog and back on the sidelines. It's funny how autoimmune illness works sometimes. So, I decided to make good use of my time by reading Hal Elrod's “Taking Life Head On“. I had already read his popular best-selling book “The Miracle Morning“, so I was interested in reading the backstory of how he developed his successful morning routine. “Taking Life Head On” is an inspirational account of his life, overcoming devastating injuries from a car crash that nearly killed him, and the lessons he learned along the way. It's only 135 pages or so, so it's a short read and I was able to get through it in an afternoon. Positive Outlook
Hal lives his life with such optimism. For most people, that's difficult, especially when confronted with horrific obstacles and circumstances of the type Hal had to overcome. Hal explains that, while many things are out of our control, how we choose to look at them matters significantly. He could have thrown himself a pity party, been a victim, and made excuses as to why he couldn't achieve. After seeing the devastation wrought on his body from the car crash, many people would have understood that sort of mindset and felt sorry for him.
Instead, Hal focused on the positive, that he was alive and had a second chance. He most certainly had moments of doubt and discomfort, but he didn't wallow in it. It didn't stop him from going for his dreams. He goes by the 5-minute rule. You can be negative, upset, angry, etc, for 5 minutes, no more. After that, you have to think positively and work on fixing what caused you to feel that way. He was determined to make the most of his second chance.
Can't Change It
Hal also has a saying. “Can't change it.” It reminds him to not focus on the things that are out of control and that he can't change. Instead, he focuses on the things he can change. I think that's a reminder we could all use. It's futile to waste time, energy, and emotion on things that are out of our control. We need to focus on ourselves, what we can impact. That puts us in a problem-solving mindset, which is less likely to lead to depression and negative feelings. This is especially important for those with autoimmune illnesses. We can't change that, but we can change how we deal with it and how we think about it.
Taking Life Head On
I don't know about you, but, although my autoimmune illness has been challenging, it comes nowhere near the challenges experienced by Hal. I am fortunate. If he can thrive despite nearly dying, if he can rebuild his life and be successful in business, so can I. So can you. We can take life head on, too.
Overall, “Taking Life Head On” uplifts and inspires. I would recommend it to anyone experiencing difficult times or wants to “love the life they have while building the life of their dreams”.
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