The Power of the Human Spirit

Tony Robbins has a new TV show called “Breakthrough”. I’m not a big fan of  the Rah-Rah motivational stuff because I’ve found that most of it wears off by the time you get back to the daily grind. But I received several emails from different people urging me to watch and my curiosity was piqued.

I recommend you watch it next Tuesday.

This week the program was about Frank and Kristen. Frank dove into a pool on their wedding night and became a quadriplegic. She became his caregiver and and both of them seemed to be in that place of “quiet desperation ” – Frank feeling helpless and useless and Kristen feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Even though we may not have experienced anything that extreme most of us can say, “Been there, done that.”

Tony Robbins worked with them for one month and the result was dramatic as were the steps to get them there.

Have you ever seen a quadriplegic jump out of an airplane? Me neither.  In a million years I wouldn’t have thought of pushing a quadriplegic out of an airplane as good therapy. It just can’t be done!

But it WAS done. They were given a choice and they chose to do it. Frank and Kristen both jumped, supported by seasoned, skilled skydivers. You only needed to look at Frank’s face to know that Robbin’s tactic had been successful. So if he could jump out of an airplane, what else could he do?

The next step was to separate them.  They both looked panicked by the though of being apart – how could he possible be o.k. without her? They had not been apart since the accident. They were given a choice and they chose to do it.

Kristen went to a spa for rest, relaxation  rejuvenation and pampering. Frank stayed with another quadriplegic and learned to play “murder ball” – a game played in a gym by a group of quadriplegics. He stayed with and observed another quadriplegic who lived a happy, full, “normal” life. Hmmm. Maybe Frank could, too.

It was intense. It was murder. We watched Frank’s expression change from a timid, frightened, what-if-I=get-hurt look to “bring it on.” His entire family was brought to Fiji to watch him play in a real game.  Frank played hard and at the end of the game was radiant with the success he had just demonstrated. The family, accustomed to treating him like an invalid, responded first with fear for him and then with astonishment and pride. Frank was back and in some ways better than ever.

One of  Frank’s dreams was to restore his old truck and race on the desert. His friends and family helped him do that and Tony Robbins came to share the first ride. Another stunning victory for Frank – and for Kristen who was freed from Frank’’s disability and allowed to become the wife again.

Of course we didn’t see the doubt, the pain, the fear, the failures that went on behind the scenes and they most certainly had to be there. What we did see was a spectacular result in two people who triumphed over personal disaster.

Yes it was dramatic. Yes, it was extreme. Yes, Tony Robbins, pushed them beyond the limits – or did he?

My questions for you, as you reflect on your own life are:

• What are your limits? Are they real or imagined?
• If you were given those choices how would you respond?
• Do you truly know what you are capable of?
• Do you allow your spirit to soar or do you buckle when trouble hits?
• When is the last time you challenged yourself to do something that intimidated you or pushed your limits?
• What is ONE THING you would do if you just had the courage?

Well, what are you waiting for?

Thanks, Tony, for reminding me of the power of the human spirit.

Irene Conlan has a master's degree in nursing, with a major in nursing administration and a minor in psychiatric nursing. She taught nursing at Arizona State University, served as Director of Nursing Administration at St. Luke's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and served as Assistant Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Division of Health Care Facilities and Emergency Medical Services. She is also a certified hypnotherapist with a practice in Scottsdale, AZ. She is an avid blogger and manages http://www.theselfimprovementblog.com http://www.theselfesteemblog.com http://www.thepositivepsychologyblog Irene lives in Scottsdale AZ and has two sons and three grandsons.

Irene has blogged 827 posts here.