If you’re a human being, it seems to me you should learn how to fall down in both the literal and the figurative senses. If toddlers are any measure, it appears we are born with the correct instincts, but by the time we’ve grown up, we’ve forgotten how it’s done. Annie Sheppard, author
If you’re over sixty-five, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions. Perhaps we’re worried about cancer or heart disease when we should be working on our balance (good core muscles) and watching out for throw rugs and showers with no grab bars.
But what about the figurative fall. Devastation from this fall can come at any age. Perhaps you’ve lost your mate, your mother or father, been divorced, lost your job, have an at-risk child. Any of these circumstances, and many more, contribute to our sense of falling down. We may feel as if we’ve fallen down professionally, in our relationships, or as a parent.
Toddlers, who are experts at falling down, have some lessons to teach us. Cry, holler if you must, feel sorry for yourself, ask someone to hold you, then, when you’re ready, get back on your feet and scurry off to embrace the rest of your life. You can do this!
Affirmation: I know how to survive a fall.
Coaching questions: What are your experiences with falling—both literally and figuratively? What have they taught you? How will you apply your learning?
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
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