Cultivating a strong mind

Some years ago, I was in an accident that temporarily left me without my vision. While out for a bike ride I collided with another cyclist and took the bulk of the impact on my face, fracturing my left orbital floor. The fracture trapped the lower eye muscles and prevented movement of my left eye. Every time I opened my eyes I saw two or four of everything. At the time I wasn’t sure when or if I would get my vision back. Had it not been for some very talented doctors and surgeons, I might not have regained proper eye function and my life would have been very different today.

Throughout this experience many people complimented me on being able to “hold it together”, despite not knowing if my vision would ever fully return. (Thankfully, ~90% of it has come back.) I credit my response to having learned how to cultivate a strong mind. A strong mind will get you through tough times and will serve as a reality check during good times.

Having a strong mind means adapting to the world around you. It means evolving with the circumstances you are dealt, letting go of what you don’t need and embracing what you do. Strong minds perform at their peak no matter the situation.

I don’t believe a strong mind is something we’re born with. It’s something that we create. Whatever path you take to get there, the foundation to a strong mind begins with understanding how the mind works. If we know how it works, we can tinker with the controls to get the desired result.