7 Life Lessons From Scuba Diving (And Swimming)
Written by: Pauline Morris, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Last year I couldn’t walk. I also couldn’t swim. But I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s start with I couldn’t walk. And yes, that does sound dramatic, but it was true. I was angry, annoyed, frustrated, upset; you name it, I was feeling it. Not one but two major tendons in my ankle were inflamed and it was incredibly painful. I couldn’t bear weight and had to wear a boot for six weeks. My doctor then went on to advise that the only exercise I could do safely was swim.
Well, that presented a problem – I had never learned how to swim!! Just the mere thought of getting water up my nose gave me shivers.
It took me a while to get over feeling sorry for myself (I’m not particularly proud of how long that took), but when I did, I decided to do something about the situation. I decided to learn to swim.
Like many defining moments in life, I didn’t just learn that one thing. I didn’t just learn how to swim; I learned some other life lessons along the way…
Find opportunity in disappointment ‒ changing perspectives opens doors.
Find solutions, not just problems ‒ it’s about making choices, not just reacting.
Use any and all resources you have available to ‒ we all need healthy ways to cope with life’s inevitable dramas, big and little.
Set goals and share them (with the right people) to keep you accountable.
Don’t get derailed! ‒ motivation and inspiration are great, but they aren’t enough. Having a plan keeps you focused when those emotions fail you.
Getting help is NOT a passive event ‒ people will not invest in you if you are not invested in yourself.
Here comes the scuba part!
Growing up in the Caribbean, I knew the seas and oceans were fascinatingly beautiful places, worlds within a world. I always wanted to dive, explore, to experience this magic.
Never in a million years did I think I would be able to scuba dive. How could I? I couldn’t swim, never mind dive!
I was afraid.
But,
Because I had a setback,
Because I faced a challenge,
Because I conquered a fear,
I now get to fulfill a lifelong dream (see life lesson 1!)
Not only have I completed my ‘try dive’ I am on my way to earning my recreational diving certification! Yeah me!!
So, here’s the 7th life lesson – Even when you’re told/taught otherwise, You Can Reclaim Lost Dreams!
Your turn.
What challenge will you turn into an opportunity?
What fear will you conquer?
What lost dream/s are you going to reclaim?
You can follow Pauline on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and can book a session through her website!
Pauline Morris, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Spanning several regions including the Caribbean, Middle East, and the United Kingdom, Dr. Pauline Morris brings a wealth of experience as a leader within and outside of medicine, as a Consultant Anaesthetist, and as a Career Coach. After becoming a single mum at 17 and choosing a life of caring for others, she realized the true difficulties doctors face in attaining happy healthy lives, whilst providing a gold standard of care to their patients. As the founder of Doctors Caring for Doctors, a career coaching and support service for physicians, her mission is to help all doctors discover how they can have a fulfilling life and a successful career without burning out.
In crafting her own successful career as a physician and entrepreneur, she is well placed to help doctors who crave inspired solutions to the competing demands of a medical career and home life.
One of her greatest gifts is her ability to authentically connect with her clients, allowing them the space to find the complete clarity that leads them to their own unique path, emotional freedom, personal joy, and professional achievement.
