“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Setbacks, particularly injuries, suddenly make us realize everything we used to have. Our patients often share feelings of angry, frustration, regret and fear with us during their sessions. They often ask what they should have done, could have done better, to have avoided this outcome. But ultimately, injuries happen, even to the most prepared.

Dr. Robert Emmons’s research on gratitude found this feeling to take place in two phases:

1. Acknowledgement of goodness

This generally happens once an athlete is out of pain and making consistent improvements, possibly even once they are back to their prior level of activity. Life is good again.

2. Recognition of the sources of goodness

This second stage allows us to appreciate the other people and circumstances that created our current state of happiness. We aim to help each of our athletes surpass their prior level of performance. By both treating the injury and optimizing the athlete, we are able to help them reach higher. For most, the injury ultimately serves as the catalyst to prioritizing their physical health and training style.

How can you shift your perspective on your injury? What wouldn’t have been possible in your life today if you hadn’t gotten hurt?