Personal Lessons and Experiences From The Past Week
Health
In terms of my health, this week has been quite interesting as I ended up in the hospital. If you follow me on social media, you might have seen my post about my experience of choking on a walnut and the lessons I learned from that episode.
Thankfully, I am okay now, but let me give you the backstory. I was having breakfast and included some walnuts in my meal. Unfortunately, I ended up choking on one while consuming my porridge. Although I managed to get most of it out, a small piece got stuck in my oesophagus, which required me to be hospitalized. I had to be put under anaesthetic to have the piece removed safely overnight. Everything is well now, but I am more mindful of chewing my food efficiently and avoiding such incidents in the future.
What really touched me during this whole process was the importance of being healthy before such an episode occurs. We cannot predict these kinds of unexpected events. However, being healthy and fit will allow us to cope with them much better.
The nurses in the hospital pointed out that I was the fittest person they had seen when I came back from being under anaesthetic. I did not need any oxygen, and my heart rate and resting blood pressure were stable throughout the whole process. I was in a good and comfortable place during the whole process. So, I believe it is essential to emphasize being healthy, not just for physical appearance or achieving certain goals, but also for coping with the stresses of life.
Stressful events can come from anywhere, not just the day-to-day pressures of work. They can arise from injuries, accidents, or surgeries that require hospitalization. Therefore, it is crucial to be resilient and prepared for such situations. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we can ensure our bodies are in the best shape possible to handle any unforeseen incidents that may occur.
Being physically fit is not just about the present, but also about preparing for unexpected events that may happen in the future. If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail. Being prepared for the unexpected can make life a little bit easier to cope with, and we never know what is around the corner. So, let's focus on being healthy and fit, not just for now, but for whatever may happen in the future.
Wealth
In terms of wealth this week, there's another aspect related to my recent hospital experience as a self-employed consultant. Due to my health issue, I lost two days' worth of work. Fortunately, I have discussed the importance of having multiple sources of income and saving up for unexpected situations like this, so I wasn't too anxious about the loss.
I don't have sick leave insurance, so it's crucial to understand the significance of having diverse income sources to avoid being overly stressed in situations like this. If you solely rely on one source of income, it can be difficult to manage when unexpected circumstances arise. However, my health is my top priority, and I can always make up for the lost income later.
Overall, I wasn't too stressed about the situation since I had some savings and additional income sources to rely on. I was frustrated with myself for causing the issue, but I have built up a good nest egg to support myself during tough times, which could be something as simple as not being able to work for a couple of days.
As a self-employed person, missing work means losing income, so having a diversified portfolio of income sources is essential for stability in the long run. Paying down debts and increasing savings can also alleviate stress when it comes to managing finances.
Mindset
This week, I want to talk about mindset, and in particular, the ability to handle stress. I was reminded of this during my recent hospital visit, where I underwent an operation. The experience reminded me of a similar operation I had years ago, which was less anxiety-inducing, but looking back, I realize I wasn't as well-prepared mentally for that experience.
As an adult, going under anaesthesia is a different experience than it was as a child. I had a few operations as a child, and the process was much less stressful because I was detached from the whole thing. But as an adult, you're more aware of the risks and complications involved, which can create anxiety.
When I had my recent operation, however, I was much more relaxed. Before the operation, I had a camera inserted into my nose and throat, which was uncomfortable and made me gag. But because of the mental resilience training I've done, such as cold showers and meditation, I was able to cope with the discomfort.
The mindset shift I had was to remind myself that the discomfort would only last a few minutes, and the outcome would be positive. Pain is temporary, and it's a small price to pay for a good result. I also had confidence in the doctors and nurses who were taking care of me.
Overall, my experience in the hospital reminded me of the importance of taking care of our mental and physical health. When we build resilience through training and exposure to stress, we're better equipped to handle unexpected challenges. It may not feel like it at first, but over time, we will see the benefits. So even though we can't control everything that happens in life, we can control our mindset and actions, and take steps to support our well-being.
The hospital experience was traumatic and challenging, but because of my mental training, I was able to cope with it. It was a reminder of the importance of building resilience and coping mechanisms, which can help us handle unexpected events with greater ease.
Lyric/ Quote I'm pondering
"If You Fail to Prepare, You Prepare to fail!"
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