To me, the word COMPARISON suggests falling in line and succumbing to a cookie-cutter recovery routines. That just simply wasn’t, and still isn’t, me. I knew my destiny would be found along a different path, and I decided to create and carve it out all on my own. Like everything else in life, success comes with hard work and proactive determination. We are each unique unto ourselves, so comparison has little to offer anyone in the way of making progress.

As I began my recovery and quest for therapy outside of the medical field, I needed to keep certain opinions and comparisons (medical or not) out of my world. My future was going to be dictated by my own actions and not those of others. Yes, exploration and research of possible forms of therapy requires an open mind and objectivity, but in the end, nobody else was in my body. My circumstances were not only my own, but very unique: I survived a surgery for an aneurysm, suffered a spinal cord stroke during the process to correct the injury, and was left paralyzed with the expectation not to survive. But I did survive, and it was time to get busy.

Having said all that, I didn’t need to compare myself to others who weren’t disabled, nor did others need to make comparisons of me.

So how did I avoid words like comparison in my recovery, and why was it so important? Well, it was quite the quest in the beginning. I’m happy to share discoveries made along the way, so please review these 5 steps to comparison-proof your recovery:

1. Aim High

   
   Don’t focus too much on what others have accomplished, and certainly don’t aim lower because you’re afraid of not measuring up. When a therapist asks what you wish to gain in your recovery, the answer should always be one hundred percent. If you tell them anything less, like fifty percent for example, then that’s what you may possibly get in return of effort toward your goals. Remember you’re there to work with them one-on-one, communicate effectively, and gain improvement safely and methodically, so don’t short change yourself. Aim high, then course-correct as you go.
   
   

2. Never Fall For Quick Fixes

   
   Be careful going to gyms and studios for recovery, even if that option seems to be the quickest or easiest short-term. Trainers who don’t understand your needs may draw harmful comparisons on what you should be doing, which could lead to lasting psychological or physical harm. Your body has different limitations, and therefore a cookie-cutter routine from an inexperienced trainer for an able-bodied person doesn’t need to be forced on you. A personalized plan takes a little more time, but tailored routines work best.
   
   

3. Track Your Body, Not Someone Else’s
   
   Your body heals and strengthens differently than the next person’s. Therefore, journal and make notes of what is changing or even causing pain to communicate with whomever your working with so they can evaluate and assess changes in course. Therapists who take notes on your recovery are those who you want in your corner because they are keeping track with you in what’s working. But if you’re splitting your time worrying about what the next person is doing, you’ll lose valuable time you could’ve been investing in yourself.
   
   

4. Practice Positivity and Mindfulness
   
   Focusing on your own recovery keeps you moving in the right direction, toward your goals and possible new courses of action. Being actively engaged in this manner can equally assist in keeping comparisons or negativity off your radar. Overtime, you can retrain your brain to emphasize the positive. Practice simple positivity and mindfulness exercises to begin reaping the rewards.
   
   

5. Enjoy Your Time!
   
   Focusing on your own outcome also means you need to discover ways of enjoying downtime. That’s part of getting better, too! How you enjoy breaks, reinsert yourself into the world, practice your diet, etcetera, are all examples of how you successfully improve your own quality of life as well as your independence. Think about what works for you as an individual before getting caught up in how others normally spend their free hours. Do what works for you!

   
   

Remember, always start small and easy. Recovery takes time and patience. It’s been nine years since I woke up paralyzed. I am still on the road to recovery, and improvements are still thankfully occurring with the assistance of incredible therapy!

Each of us has to make continued efforts to avoid comparison from robbing us of our joy. Please share how you avoid this thief from stealing your happiness in the comments below, or over on social media. And as always, I’m here to help however possible as you find your way forward.