Why You Need Injuries Part II

Here's why to love injuries and setbacks.

This is a continuation of Part I.

I’m a rock climber and athletes are paranoid about injuries, constantly. But not me. Injuries and setbacks have value. They are an important part of life that makes us stronger, not weaker. If you’re left appreciating the wisdom of the old man and the horse, but mistrusting how an injury can be useful, get ready for your mind to be blown. Well, at least boggled.

5. Injuries Can Be a Blessing in Disguise

The old man and the horse taught us that we can’t know if a certain event or change in circumstance is ever a good or bad thing.

A few years ago, I fell on a traditional climb in Zion, popped two pieces of my safety gear, and fell the length of an entire pitch, around 60 feet. Lucky for me, I had just sent my project, but that didn’t mean I was happy to receive an MCL sprain in my elbow.

Discussing the length of recovery with my physical therapist (months), they remarked that my shoulder showed signs of a nerve issue. Yes, I said, I got that from an injury years ago and it continues to give me problems. This doctor, unlike many others, was passionate about my healing and took my case in stride. Committed to resolving my nerve issue, we did 9 months of therapy and I am grateful to him for helping me cure much of my long-term pain.

I never would have gotten to meet him if I hadn’t had that injury and that fall.

4. Experts Often Miss What Beginners See

Beginners are incredible learners because there is no pattern to break, but those of us who are experienced, whether in writing or climbing, fall asleep. Beginners are open to feeling over a thinking mindset and that allows them to be impressionable, aware and to learn. When we know what we’re doing, we will assume what we’re doing is correct. Experts get confident. Confidence often leads to a lack of awareness. Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons many climbers, writers, and experts get held back. They aren’t paying attention anymore. You may be frustrated that you are going to the gym you’re putting your time in. But are you doing the same things you’ve always done? So why aren’t you getting any better?

3. Injuries Break Habits

Not improving? It’s probably because you’re doing something unconsciously that is holding you back. You aren’t aware of it because it’s such an ingrained habit.

We are all full of bad habits and our bad habits are holding us back. Habits, by definition, are inobvious. We don’t see how our small habits are contributing to us not improving. Beginners are fantastic because they don’t have patterns. An injury is a special gift that allows you to think like a beginner again. See your footwork, hip mobility, body tension, and power in a whole new light. Injuries are an opportunity to bring awareness to your athletic performance and grow your ability from a new perspective - an essential experience to becoming the best athlete you can be.

2. Injuries Prompt Rest

We live in a society that is busier than ever. Injuries prompt much needed rest. It’s the vacation you didn’t want to take. But you can still enjoy it. I’m not going to lie to you when I got COVID for three weeks last year, I was sick in bed with a fever of 104 F and it was the most relaxed I had been in years. That is pathetic, I know, but it was the staycation I needed. I’m still working on being relaxed while being healthy (feel-me?) but that is infinitely harder to execute.

1. Injuries Teach Us Patience, Resilience, and Tame the Ego

Okay, this is where the injuries-are-good-for-you lecture happens. You will learn so much from your injury. Yeah, yeah we get it. Learning is good for us. Learning when it comes to injuries tends to suck and feel terrible. So we’ll brush over this part because our ego is already crying enough that we won’t get to send our project this season and we don’t need to make it feel worse.

Suffice it to say, you will learn to be more patient, and perhaps more peaceful and less greedy along the way.

BONUS: Injuries Force Us to Train Our Weaknesses

Don’t wait for an injury to work on what you are bad at. Injuries in sports, other than freak accidents, are often signs of a buried weakness. Use the opportunity to improve. I’ve already come back stronger from an injury. You can too.

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