Do you need an update?

Sometimes when we think we can't do something, we simply don't try. A crucial, yet simple question we can ask to empower ourselves is "why"

When we ask ourselves "why" we can't do something instead of just accepting a baseless belief, we can unlock doors we assume are closed.

Beliefs are formed to help us to adapt to our environment or "to fit in". The more established a belief becomes in our minds, the harder it becomes to question or change that belief.

Recently I came across an interesting take on human belief systems by Psychotherapist Dr John Nutting. In relation to our Core Beliefs, he indicates that "even when there is clear proof or evidence available that should convince us that a core belief is out of date and no longer applicable, it's still unbelievably difficult to see this and even harder to make any change"

Based on this, our beliefs and the rules we live by must be assessed and updated regularly. And besides, living by rules and beliefs specifically created to serve us at a particular time or stage in our lives is a nonsense if our circumstance has changed, and it will have because things never stay the same!

By analysing and simply challenging these beliefs we can craft a more efficient belief that's in synchrony with the current life we lead. The most important reason to "update and optimise" is to prevent negative beliefs, beliefs that get in our way, beliefs that sap our happiness, hinder progress and dim our productivity from becoming part of our core belief system.

Here's an example: A little over a year ago, I was watching a video online of an amputee runner and I remember thinking how amazing it looked, that was it... I was thinking "that looks great", I was thinking "it would be great to run" but that's where it ended, a thought. In my mind, it was an impossibility.

For so many years, I simply dismissed running as an impossibility because of my partial foot amputation on my left leg, and it was. It was something I'd cemented in my mind and in many ways I'd come to accept. If I had have attempted to go for a trot while I had that useless limb, I would have spent a month in bed or on crutches, no thank you.

Even when I made the decision to amputate that leg, the beliefs I'd formed about my abilities remained. Amputating a leg is fairly straight forward really, you physically remove something. You can see a part of your body isn't there any longer and strangely enough, processing that fact (in my eyes anyway) was fairly simplistic. What wasn't simplistic was amputating that older, more entrenched belief about my physical abilities. A belief that had been there for so long, shelved, unchallenged, until I asked a very simple, vitally important question. "Why?"

"Why can't I run?"
"Why is it impossible?"
"Why will I be in too much pain?"

I actively began to question my thought processes, asking "why?" which turned into"why the hell not?!" to the point where it became a great way to unlock avenues of life that seemed to be shut off.

The situation had changed, I was now balanced, relatively pain free, but best of all wound free. That belief - "I'll never run again" needed an update, so out it went, replaced by a more cynical, wall breaking, curious mentality that spilled into other areas of my life in a positive way. All from asking one simple question.

Together with my prosthetist and the wonderful people at Ossur, up I got onto a brand new set of flex run legs and within a short few months, after 13 long years, I was running, belief smashed! It was almost as if a wall had been knocked over and on the other side, new pathways began to open up in front of me. I remember taking my first few strides, it was as though I was breaking shackles, the freedom of being able to move swiftly under my own steam was both liberating and exhilarating! I felt like Forrest Gump when he was breaking free of his Callipers as he ran away from rock throwing bullies!

Sometimes we can form these beliefs in moments of turmoil and crisis, often they are beneficial and essential in successfully overcoming the obstacle we face. When we recover, steady ourselves and build up to a place where we can confidently reassess these beliefs, be brave and do it - knock down any walls that stand between you and your full potential.

                                                                        Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

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The problem with saying "Yes"

One of the main points I bang on about is the importance of being open to new experiences that are unique, unusual, perhaps even a little crazy. But why do we all need to constantly challenge and stretch ourselves in order to stay ahead of the game and to avoid stagnation?

Let's dive into this and find out why there's far more to it than simply saying "yes".

When we are inspired by something, whether it's something we read, see, hear or experience, it's an amazing feeling that has the power to jolt us into action. An indescribable energy consumes us and compels us to act on said inspiration and enrich our lives under this newfound "superpower".

The problem is that it rarely lasts. Life, as usual, takes over and often the buzz will be short lived and we'll be expected to carry out this inspirational undertaking all by ourselves - often resulting in us taking the easy option of just giving it away altogether.

If we decide to throw in the towel when we give something new a try, we run the risk of creating a seriously dangerous precedent. Not just with future undertakings but with existing day-to-day challenges or hurdles we might encounter. When we give up, we can lose our competitive edge. When we give up, we make "giving up" an option from that point forth. That pattern can become habitual and let's be honest, we can become lazy as it's a far simpler way to deal with the tough stuff. If we continue to give up time and time again, after a while we don’t even realize we’re doing it. It'll become second nature and a default approach to anything we do, tainting our ability to overcome the tougher, more rewarding challenges we face.

When we say "yes" to a challenge, we feel brave, empowered and on top of the world. We might puff out our chest and make all of these bold statements about world domination (and on that day, we might actually believe it)! But the proof is, and always will be, in the doing.

Can you walk your talk? Can you follow through and give it everything you have? Only you know if you have thrown everything at a challenge, no one else. Your actions, the tenacity you choose to approach things with, and your level of determination will be the things that will set a valuable precedent in you. They will empower you from within to carry out any type of task you choose from that point forth! 

So forget about saying "yes" to a challenge. Forget about it all together unless your intentions are unwavering. A half hearted approach has the capability of infecting the future battles you'll face with a "giving up clause". When you approach your challenge, giving up must not be an option or even a passing thought.

                                    

                                                                      

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

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We all need a Challenge to keep us on track!

2015 has come and gone. Sure, it's "nice" to look back at what a wonderful job you did and give yourself a big pat on the back, but please, keep it brief.

Now is the perfect time to set yourself a new challenge. The year takes off with or without us so don't get caught napping! No-one likes playing catch up for 11 months. 

The word "Challenge" can have many meanings but in this case, I'm referring to the following meaning:

A task or situation that tests someone's abilities.

A challenge, whether it's professional or personal is great for our growth, confidence and mental wellbeing. It's kind of like those gutter guards at a tenpin bowing alley, it'll stop us from veering off the path by bumping us back on track when we falter. It helps us to maintain motivation and focus while also adding to the pool of mental resources we can draw on.

We need to approach a challenge with vigour and dogged determination. This way, we will reach our goal sooner and with greater success. 

To optimise your ability to rise to the challenge, it's crucial to be absolutely crystal clear on the reason "why" you've issued that particular challenge in the first place. It must also be a compelling reason. Does it add value to your life in a massive way? If something deep down in your bones isn't driving you to succeed, perhaps it's wise to rethink your challenge.

Oh, and forget about all those sparkly New Years resolutions you made a couple of weeks back. A recent study found that only 8% of New Years resolutions are actually fulfilled. Instead, why not lay all those resolutions out in front of you, pick the most important one, convert it into a challenge with a tangible outcome and get cracking?

Make whatever your challenge is count. Make it essential to your life, ensure it has the scope to improve your life. It will keep you focussed, stretch you, test you... it will ensure you stay well and truly on your toes (or foot shells, stumps... or whatever you have down there!)

Don't overdo it either - one challenge is more than enough to focus on for the year, but keep in mind the key word in the definition above - "Test" It must test you!

When setting your challenge for 2016, ask yourself these 4 key questions:

1. How important is it that I rise above and beyond this challenge?
(Answer must contain the words "bloody important" if not, try again...)

2. Will this stretch me, test me, twist me, turn me and spit me out a better person?

3. Will successfully overcoming the challenge enrich my life immensely?

4. Is my challenge actionable and tangible? Is there a clear end goal I'm aiming toward or is it just another doomed New Years resolution?

While the end goal of successfully overcoming your challenge is the focus. Don't forget to take a moment or two to enjoy yourself on your journey to it!

What challenge will you set for yourself in 2016?

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

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The secret benefit of getting out of your Comfort Zone

How well equipped are you to handle a crisis?

“Get out of your comfort zone” Boooring.... It’s an overused, fluffy cliché I know.

Think for a moment. When you recall your most vivid memories, I'll bet they were when you were experiencing something different. Perhaps something exciting, challenging, awkward, sad...

The reason people use the saying is because it’s where the magic happens. A place where we experience new things. We leave the familiar and discover the unfamiliar, accelerating our learning and growth in the process. 

However, I believe there's a much more important reason why we must regularly step into a different zone. Put simply, it will better prepare us for any challenge, downturn or crisis that we may face in the future.

The word crisis comes from the Greek word Krisis, which literally means “to decide”. The most important aspect of navigating through turmoil is our ability to make sound decisions as we steer ourselves to safety. 

When we step outside our comfortable space, we feel uneasy, perhaps we even feel some level of anxiety. It’s this exact feeling that we must seek to experience so we become accustomed to it. A crisis can strike without warning and we’ll be thrust into that very feeling of unease, uncertainty, anxiousness and fear, whether we like it or not. The more accustomed we are to those feelings, the better equipped we’ll be to handle ourselves.

When we are outside the zone, we are challenged.

When we face a crisis – same same. 

Break away from routine, step into that uncomfortable space.

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

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Are you looking the wrong way?

If we are always focussed on the negatives in our lives then ultimately, that's how we will feel.

When we fall into a rut or hit a hurdle (perhaps even a few in succession), it's easy to wonder, "Why do I have all the bad luck?" 

Sometimes the effects of a crisis linger for far longer than they should and it's often for a very simple reason - We have become so fixated and "zoomed in" on the negatives of the situation that we completely blind ourselves to any possible way out. It's a vicious cycle and at worst, it can set us on a free fall that can be difficult to arrest. We need to make sure that we don't become preoccupied on the negatives, and one way that we can do this is to distract ourselves from the problem at hand.

One example of this that many of us might be familiar with is when you have a fight with a partner or friend. It might be at home, in a restaurant or in the car, but there's usually that moment of awkward silence when you're negative thoughts about the fight are flying around and around in your head. But, then your partner or friend pulls a stupid face or makes a joke, and almost instantly the mood swings from negative to positive. It might take more than one funny face, but before you know it the distraction disrupts the negative thoughts and you can start to turn around your thoughts and mood and you might even forget what you were fighting over in the first place.

You may have heard of the term "Phantom pain". It's a neurological condition that affects amputees. We feel pain in a limb that's not there. For me it's more often an itch I literally can't scratch, it drives me crazy! It varies in severity from person to person but can be extremely debilitating. 

Last week I went swimming for the first time in a long time. Later that night when I was lying in bed, I had the worst phantom pain I've ever had before. I think the feeling of being weightless and kicking my legs in the water might have fired up the nerve endings in my leg. The pain was in my right foot and it felt as though someone was stabbing me with a long sharp knife. Every 2 minutes...bang! My leg would flinch from the shooting pain in a foot that didn't exist! It's the strangest feeling.

This went on for hours and when there was no way I could get to sleep, I decided that enough was enough. I jumped up (after I popped on my legs), boiled the kettle, filled up a hot water bottle and went back to bed. I took off the cover and placed it on my opposite thigh. It was a little hot but the heat distracted me from focussing solely on my right leg, and in turn, it reduced both the pain and the frequency of the phantom pain. Finally, I could nod off to sleep.

Sometimes by focussing on something other than the problem at hand, we can distract ourselves enough to reduce the problem's severity. When we we are preoccupied with the problem and it's symptoms, it can intensify and compound it. Focussing on other things can distract us for long enough to find a solution or gain perspective, giving ourselves a far greater chance of overcoming it.

Some issues are certainly harder to ignore than others. Be mindful when smaller, trivial matters or problems take up more of your time and energy than they're worth and begin to affect how you feel. 

Change it up and refocus your energy on a solution!

Remember, if we are always focussed on the negatives in our lives then ultimately, that's how we will feel.
                       

  "Creating a distraction will ease the severity of the symptom!"

                                                                      

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

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Break out of the "Comparison Funk"

We are taught many lessons throughout our lives. We learn every day through education, our careers, relationships, social lives... I believe the most valuable lessons we can learn are through our tougher life experiences and hardships.

One debilitating habit that needs to be stamped out and left behind for good, is comparing ourselves and our circumstances to others. It's perfectly normal and even beneficial to look up to, admire and even idolise others. It can push us to better ourselves, keep us focussed and even instil stronger life values and self belief. However, be careful not to make unfair comparisons between your own situation and that of the "looked up to", "admired" and "idolised". Comparisons can turn into disappointment, demotivation and sometimes even jealousy and trick us into focussing on the wrong areas all together. You'll never be the same as someone else, but you can be just as good in your own way!

The truth is, we can't possibly be the best at every endeavour and we're all at various stages of a lengthy journey. It's simply unfair, to compare.

Let me share a story about the early stages of my rehabilitation. A young guy who was the same age as me at the time (18) was admitted to rehab a few weeks after I arrived. He'd come off his dirt bike travelling at 140kmh wearing shorts and a singlet. Broken ankle, arm, jaw and he'd lost his right leg below the knee. I remember thinking how lucky he was to be alive. I also remember watching him churn through his rehab program like a champion and literally within days, he was up standing on his new leg.

I remember comparing that to my own situation where just trying to sit upright for 5 minutes without throwing up was a massive challenge. Within a couple of weeks he was riding the exercise bike, walking with a stick... then without a stick. Finally he was discharged and free to go home just over 3 weeks after arriving... 3 weeks!

Meanwhile, my own progress seemed like it was non-existent and while I was inspired by his determination and happy to see him doing so well, it made me feel helpless. The light at the end of the tunnel I was trying so hard to focus on dimmed and the sobering realisation of how far behind him I really was hit me with force.

I remember how negativity crept into my mind when I was comparing our vastly different situations. I wanted to accelerate my return to health, what I required was patience. I wanted to go home, but I couldn't even transfer from a wheelchair to a damn car yet. I wanted to walk, but I had to get the hang of being upright first.

I made the decision to focus on myself and my own situation for what it was. I refocussed, concentrated on small goals and worked hard to get there.  It may have taken weeks, months even, to see any progress but I did get there. Sitting, standing...walking, my progress became something I valued. No longer comparing myself with anyone lifted my progression and mindset and it was easier than you might think.

Here's 3 easy steps to break out of a "Comparison funk" and shift back into a more positive, productive mindset:

* Be selfish - Focus on yourself for a while, on your own strengths. Constantly focussing on the things others do and things we don't control will be to our detriment.

* Quit comparing - Get out of the "grass is greener" mindset. Use those comparisons as inspiration to trigger action, not jealousy!

* Carve your own path - A brilliant quote I read recently from Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th century poet who was seen as a champion of individualism, reads " Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Says it all really...

Don't be afraid to walk a unique path. It's great to model yourself on the success stories of others but be your own success story, take risks and when you fall, don't be afraid to jump straight back up!

You can get there - make the only variable "when", never "if"

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

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Eliminate complaints, increase positivity.

"Nothing ever works for me!" "Why can't my life be easier?" "I wish things were different..."

We all know them and we all avoid them...The Serial Complainer!
No matter what the circumstance, they're unhappy with something, anything, everything and they don't mind letting the world know about it either (several times over).

First up, let's define what a complaint is by definition:

To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something

There are differing opinions on the effects of complaining. Some psychologists believe in the emotional relief it provides, while others believe that ultimately, we end up with decreased mood.

Neuro-scientific research suggests that we become more negative ourselves when we are subjected to a long winded gripe session. Sometimes, the only way around it is to create distance between the complainer and the complainee.

If that's not an option and you can't walk away, i.e. work colleague, family member, siamese twin, then perhaps simply ask them the question "What are you going to do about it?" They might walk away and take their complaints to someone else (win) or they might actually come up with a solution ( bigger win).

We all have things in our lives that we could complain about, seek sympathy or attention for. This is the reason why we complain in the first place isn't it?
But people are busy and spare time is too precious to spend on negativity. It drags us down and we end up dreading any impending interaction we have with that person in the future - our subconscious lets out a large groan while consciously, we plan to, well, make other plans...

I don't want to sound overly negative myself, but do you fit the description above? Be honest... do you?
If you answered 'yes' then don't worry - what's wonderful, is that we can all change and it isn't as hard as you might think.

Life as a double amputee comes with it's challenges, but I learnt very early on about the dangers of complaining. Not only does it have the ability to drag others down around you, it can be detrimental for your own mental wellbeing as it extinguishes hope and can become habitual.

You may have come across various "Complaining challenges" - where you don't complain for 7 days, 2 weeks or 21 days...
Although they sound a little "gimmicky" the thought process behind them is sound, with overwhelming positive results from participants.

Here's 3 simple steps to injecting some better vibes into your life:

• Awareness - Be aware and mindful of what and how you speak in your everyday conversations. Every time you slip - pinch yourself...hard! It will condition you to stop complaining.
• Remedy - Now that you are aware of the magnitude - replace those usual complaints that pop out with constructive solutions instead. For example: "I hate the cold weather" turns into "I hate the cold weather but it's nice to know I don't have leprosy" Kidding, but you get the idea! Follow a gripe with a solution or positive, productive finish.
• Benefits - Think about the positives your new found "complaint free" existence has brought you. You no longer sweat the small stuff and you're practically a master capable of taking on any challenge! Well, perhaps not just yet but you'll get there.

And lastly, just remember that somebody, somewhere, has got it a lot tougher than you...

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

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Winning isn't everything, but trying to win is.

"Winning isn't everything, BUT trying to win is"

When I was younger I remember hearing it all the time; At athletics days, swimming carnivals and weekend sports. Anywhere where there was any form of competition.

I have a problem with this saying. Here's why...

When we don't demand a persons absolute best effort, we ingrain an attitude that a mediocre performance is enough. It isn't. 

There is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone give up. Australia is an incredibly proud sporting nation - throwing in the towel goes against our culture. Saying winning isn't everything may make someone feel better in the short term, but does damage in the long term. This isn't only in relation to sport either. An academic pursuit,a career goal, a life long dream, all of these require a persons very best effort to achieve.

A determined and unwavering "effort" in all pursuits is critical behaviour that is essential in moulding a competitive life ethic, especially in our younger generations. If we are accepting mediocre performances, the will and desire we desperately need for our careers and professional lives won't mature into what it should and needs to be.

In any work place, it would be fair to assume that you wouldn't get a pat on the back for producing sub standard work. You might be reprimanded or even worse, lose your job. There is an expectation of excellence, anything less won't have you scaling the heights of the company ladder. 

Out of all the traits displayed by highly successful humans, athletes, professionals and leaders, determination and drive is, in my opinion, by far the most important. The ability to embrace  challenges and face them head on with a healthy level of gusto is crucial!

I believe that without stubborn determination and a "never say die - fight to the finish mindset", I would have had a very different outcome when fighting Meningococcal disease at the age of 18.

Having a competitive mindset is the essential ingredient to achieving difficult, worthwhile goals. 

I've always had a strong desire to win in anything I tried. I believe that desire translated on a pure level into my ability to fight when I was more likely to die than live. A profound will kicked in, just as it did when I was losing in tennis, under the pump playing football or a few strokes behind in a round of golf. When you have a fierce winning mindset, your thoughts don't allow in negativity, it becomes simple - succeed, fight and persist at all costs.

Sure, I agree that winning isn't everything. We will all fail at some point. But we can't be forgiven for a lack of effort, there really isn't any excuse.

Fight for what you want and fight hard because if you do, regardless of the result, there will be no regrets. 

    Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

Find your "Upside"

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Bulletproof Body Image

I was both surprised and saddened to hear that according to the Mission Australia youth survey 2013, body image is the third greatest area of concern for young people aged between 11 and 25 in Australia. A massive 42.1% of females indicated that body image was a major concern.

What is body image?

"Body image is your attitude towards your body - how you see yourself, how you think and feel about the way you look and how you think others perceive you. Your body image can be influenced by your own beliefs and attitudes as well as those of society, the media and peer groups."

So how do we become happier, prouder and more confident in our bodies?

Those who ridicule others by the way they look do so out of insecurity and are threatened by the differences of others. One of the most empowering things we can all do is to embrace our differences and uniqueness and be proud of them. Differences are what makes life interesting - they add diversity and character to individuals. One of the most debilitating things we can do is make comparisons with others - it's a massive mistake.

We all have elements of ourselves that aren't exactly the way we would like. In todays society, there is a real emphasis placed on "perfection" thanks to television, magazines and media. The reality is entirely different because nobody is perfect, if there were such a thing as the perfect person then we would have a benchmark for perfection. We all have flaws, we might dislike certain things about ourselves that others adore about us and without them, we simply wouldn't be us. Our perception of ourselves might be entirely different to the perception of others and we are the harshest of critics.

Growing up, I don't have too many memories of feeling concerned, embarrassed or anxious about my body. Perhaps my skinny legs were the only thing I occasionally found myself being self conscious about. Ironically, those skinny legs are now gone and have been replaced by even skinnier metallic prosthetics that look nothing like the flesh and bone that were once there. As one little girl recently said, "Look Mummy! It's a robot-skeleton!"

How do I accept and embrace this unique and often confronting appearance? How do I walk around in shorts with any sort of confidence? It might seem unrealistic to some, but I love it!

Looking at others and comparing myself in any way would be a fruitless exercise. They're not going to grow back, so I have learnt to embrace them, be proud of them and look at them as a reminder that they are now just a part of what makes me ME.

We each get one body, so we must learn to love it in order to focus on a more productive, positive existence. Here are 3 simple ways we can all learn to love our bodies:

1.  Own yourself - Learn to like what you see in the mirror. Own the quirks and differences that make you unique and differentiate you from the crowds. Project confidence by being proud and comfortable in your own skin

2.  Be kind - Be kind to your body, nourish it with the right foods and exercise regularly.

3.  Ignore ignorance - I know it is easier said than done, but we need to try to understand that when others say unkind things about our appearance, it's a flaw on their side, not ours.

Move forward with confidence, embrace what makes you different and flaunt it to the world rather than hiding it away.

Mike Rolls

Speaker | Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

Find your "Upside"

Amputate dead weight

It's important to reassess areas of our lives from time to time. We have regular check ups. Blood pressure, teeth, cars, house security...  is it too much to ask that we give our lives as a whole a much needed tune up?
Sometimes we need to cut off areas of our lives that no longer serve us, or worse, are taking us down a path that is detrimental to our long term health and wellbeing.

In 2009 was forced to make a choice. I had to decide what to do about my troublesome left leg, I had an infection and needed some form of surgery. While there were many options and opinions on what I should do, I took the drastic option to cut it off. This wasn't supported by doctors as a first option but I needed to take control. I could see the difficulties the other surgeries would bring as well as the value a second leg amputation (giving me two prosthetic legs) would provide me. I could finally move on with confidence and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Now I use a similar method to take care of all areas of my life. Here is how we can all actively amputate dead weight.

First, write a list:
Include everything from your regular commitments, how you choose to spend your free time, habitual behaviours, relationships (professional and personal) foods you eat regularly etc. Basically anything that is a consistent part of your life.

Second, categorise your list:
Think about each item and ask yourself honestly, "does this add or subtract from my life?"
Now place either a plus or a minus next to each item.

Third, identify dead weight:
Look carefully at the negatives. Imagine what your life would be like if you eliminated these things that are clearly detracting from it.

Fourth, Commit to the cull.
Make a decision to remove this negative influence from your life once and for all. Shut the door on that element, making room for newer, more positive things in it's place.

Sometimes we are aware certain things aren't good for us, but we continue on as normal, put up with them and hope they eventually sort themselves out. Cutting negatives from your life, taking control and making difficult but necessary decisions is not only beneficial, but empowering and motivating as well.

In 2009, I cut off my second leg below the knee.

I chose to 'amputate dead weight' that was a threat to my future wellbeing.  I refused to drag around this dead weight any longer - I decided to set myself free.

What parts of your life can you cut off, that will set you free?

Mike Rolls

Speaker * Survivor

www.mikerolls.com.au

Find your "Upside"

89 Storeys in 5 paragraphs!

A few weeks ago I was asked to be an ambassador for this years "Eureka Climb" An event that supports 2 amazing charities, Whitelion and Interplast. The Eureka tower is a massive 297 metres high, 89 storeys and 1622 steps in total. Each year thousands of participants take the challenge and get behind this worthwhile initiative.

Initially I was a little apprehensive as I hadn't done any type of stair training and it was less than 2 weeks till the launch day (which the ambassadors would climb at) for corporate partners and sponsors. I'm a massive believer in simply "having a go" so I agreed and made a promise to myself that unless I was physically unable to go on, i.e: I had a leg issue or the like... that I would give it my absolute best shot.

The event launch day arrived and we all gathered around the bottom in preparation for the climb, it was wonderful to meet some of the fellow ambassadors including professional tower climber Mark Bourne and Tristan Miller, an inspirational guy, who in 2010 completed an incredible 52 marathons in 52 weeks!

Off we went, of course I let Mark go before me as I didn't want to upset him by beating him to the top! As the crew slowly disappeared up the stairwell, I began my ascent. I started with 10 floors without a break, then stopped to catch my breath. It was hard to breathe in the confined stairwell but after a minute or so, I was ready to roll again. I thought I'd bang out another 10 storeys, however this time I only managed 7. 17 down, only 72 to go - easy right? I started to get into the groove of things and slowly but surely I was making progress. The halfway point!! Level 45! By this stage I felt very alone. The chatter and panting of the other climbers in front had long disappeared. I wondered, were they finished? How long had I been going? I continued, sweating, heaving. My legs were burning but the pain was manageable and I embraced it. The thought of giving up never entered my mind, even if I was there all day I was going to finish. Finally, two more flights to go, then just one. The final few steps were the best and possibly the easiest of all - I'd made it! Last place by a mile but the feeling of completing it was more than enough. Stoked!

There were times during the climb where it would have been easier to say "well, at least I got half way" and jump in the lift, but that mentality is defeatist and doesn't serve us well. Finding ways to push on as opposed to looking for an out will give us the greatest sense of achievement. Taking that easy option, avoiding a little pain or discomfort may be appealing in the immediate sense, but how beneficial will it be long term? How will it serve us when we are faced with tough moments or decisions in the future?

Fight on through difficult times and reap the rewards!

Mike Rolls 

Speaker * Survivor

Find your "Upside"
www.mikerolls.com.au

Why everyone can boost their percentage!

How often do we say "I really should...." or "I've been meaning to...." or "I'm going to"...

For one reason or another procrastination can set in and excuses take the place of, and destroy action. 

In 2009 I had elective surgery to amputate my left leg, my second leg, below the knee. This decision followed a regular checkup with a doc at my rehab centre. During the check up she examined results of a recent scan on my existing foot and said something to me I'll never ever forget...

"Given you have a bone infection in your foot, and have had for quite some time by the looks of it - your body has been running at a lower percentage than it would normally"

"My body was running at a lower percentage than it would normally?!" 

This got me thinking, she was spot on. The best word to describe my pre op state would have to be "sluggish". Inferior energy levels, decreased appetite, fatigue... and those were just the physical symptoms. My mental and emotional states were also affected.

Following the surgery and after I was completely healed, I made a conscious effort to monitor my physical state - sure enough, I noticed a boost. A boost in almost every area! I was adding positive percentage to my overall state. This had significant flow on effects for me and I started to apply the percentage boosting theory to all areas of my life - I began to exercise more, improved my diet and even went back to study. As my overall percentage increased, I found that my mood and overall happiness improved with it. It was a valuable gift to give to not only myself, but also to those closest to me.

If you think about your current life state on a percentage level - what percentage are you running at? Physically? Mentally? Emotionally? 

It would be fair to say that someone who chooses to drink soft drink regularly for example, would notice significant positive change in certain areas of their life if they replaced it with water. This article, as an example -
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/soft-drinks-and-disease/
indicates the health risks of soft drink.

Of course, reaching maximum percentage in all areas would be impossible, but we can all strive to top up our percentage points to benefit not only ourselves but those around us. We become happier and healthier and the ripple effects will flow to family, friends and the world in general. We increase our ability to contribute more in every way while giving ourselves a precious gift also.

I believe it's essential to seek growth, pursue excellence and contribute each and every day. Why not make those tasks easier on yourself?

 Mike Rolls

 Speaker - Survivor

Right under our nose....

One of the most important things to me during my adolescence was my social circle. Like most teenagers, I had a busy social life, as well as large friendship circles at school and through my involvement in sport.

I remember so clearly thinking that adults knew nothing about the way the world "really was" and I would pay far more attention to my friends or to peers I looked up to, admired or idolised. It's normal... I remember plenty of discussions with friends about nagging mums and demanding dads, at times, we thought the whole world was against us.

The world has changed a great deal since I was at school. We have well and truly entered an age where technology and communication has become a huge part of life. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... the list goes on. Being connected with others takes time and energy and is so important to us, especially teens and adolescents. It's easy to get caught up in our online existence and persona, that it can be just as easy to miss the true value our closest relationships provide.

One important lesson I learnt when I went through a traumatic event that I wanted to share was this:

In crisis, the importance of our day to day "issues" become irrelevant, and the people that matter most will come to the fore - always.

I remember prior to becoming ill, I had all these "stresses" in my life,  or so it seemed.... What career path to take? Where would I work part time? How can I impress that girl I was keen on? How would I survive the trials and tribulations of being a young adult? How I would mend a friendship with someone I wasn't even that close to? How I could be more fashionable? and so on....

When that traumatic event came... Guess what, none of those questions mattered anymore.
When I woke up and throughout my recovery, the people that mattered most were there, always.
The day to day issues evaporated and were now completely insignificant. That taught me so much, it taught me to be thankful, to be appreciative of the love and care of those closest, but most of all it taught me the importance of not letting our day to day struggles become larger than they actually are.

Take a step back, breathe, look at what you have, be grateful for it.

                              
                                                          Mike Rolls
                                                    Speaker - Survivor

Risk = Growth

In an earlier post  http://mikerolls6.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/use-these-4-steps-to-enter-different.html
I spoke about being comfortable with risk. That doesn't mean taking unrealistic risks that may result in drastic consequences, but weighing up the pros and cons of any situation, in order to make a decision that will be beneficial to our lives. In my experience, hard decisions, in particular risk laden decisions have the most power to shape us.

In 2009 I was faced with a life changing decision. I wasn't always a double below knee amputee, in fact, I spent 8 years with a partial foot amputation on my left leg that was painful and problematic. I noticed I was experiencing increased pain in my foot and decided that I should have it checked out... The diagnosis - Osteomyelitis (an infection in the bone) with no chance of it improving or disappearing. Initially, there was worry, followed by uncertainty which turned into fear at the prospect of more surgery.

I made a choice to be proactive about the decision I was faced with, to educate myself about all possibilities and scenarios that may eventuate. First step - evaluate risk.

In total I went to 5 specialists for advice. I wanted and needed to approach this with my eyes wide open, it was essential that I became comfortable with the risks and that I also owned my decision and assumed total responsibility for my future.
There were many suggestions and recommendations for other surgeries that would involve extended stays in hospital and long rehabilitation times, none of which I was interested in.
In my mind, I knew deep down what my ideal outcome would look like - I wanted to amputate below the knee...
When I told people of this desire, I was met with a range of reactions, many of them were along the lines of "that's crazy!" or "why would you choose to do that?" I can understand why it may have seemed so drastic to others but up to that point in my life, my strongest, most dominant leg was always my prosthesis - I wanted to put an end to the pain and ongoing issues I had with my left leg. I also wanted to gain a sense of psychological closure and move forward with my life.

The benefits, when measured against the risks, ultimately allowed me to make that decision and be entirely comfortable with it.
Thankfully, the surgery went exceptionally well and I was up and going in a very short amount of time.

Since then my life has changed for the better. Taking that risk, albeit a risk I had to take, wasn't just physically beneficial to my life, but emotionally and mentally beneficial as well.
I believe making tough decisions will make you stronger, having the courage to make a change to something that detracts from your life is incredibly empowering.

Sometimes we make these decisions because they need to be made, whereas sometimes they are thrust upon us. Sometimes we seek to change the things we want to improve and often these decisions come with consequences and risk. Making yourself aware of these risks through research and education, then becoming comfortable with them can enable you to make huge improvements in your life.

"There's no reward in life without risk" - Barry J Farber

                                        Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

                                                          Speaker - Survivor

Why we should talk to strangers

Here is a link to a blog that has to be read!

http://kerriephipps.com/2014/06/start-with-a-smile/

Recently on a trip to Sydney for Sam Cawthorn's protege workshop, I had the pleasure to meet a woman who has an amazing vision, Kerrie Phipps. Kerrie has made it her goal to ensure that we become better connected as a society through human interaction - and I'm not talking about scoring a new Twitter follower or making a new friend on Facebook - I'm referring to good old fashioned interaction!

Before meeting Kerrie I wrote a blog that included a small part on why smiling is a great way to meet new people... but Kerrie has taken that to a whole new level which I absolutely love! Kerrie happens to be one of the most friendly and approachable people that I've ever met, so it came as no surprise to me when I found out the reason why - She talks to strangers! Talking to strangers is Kerrie's passion - she believes in making meaningful connections with people every day, simply by initiating a conversation with a "hello" or a smile. I'm happy to say I'm hooked!

I was inspired by this message and have since made a very conscious effort to do more, to open up more, to smile more. Not only will it brighten up your day, but you may very well make a long lasting  valued connection - whether it's a business connection or a friendship you may never have experienced otherwise. Talking to strangers is, in my opinion, what society lacks.

Thankfully Kerrie will be releasing a book that comprehensively explains this outstanding initiative!
Find out more about Kerrie and "Do talk to strangers" at KerriePhipps.com

All you need is a little hope

One of the earliest lessons I learnt after waking up from a 5 1/2 week coma, was the essential need for hope.

Hope is incredibly powerful...

There I was, lying in a hospital bed in the ICU at The Alfred Hospital, unable to move, tangled in a web of tubes and machinery. My injuries - extensive both internally and externally, the pain was far beyond anything I'd ever experienced before.

Where on Earth could I possibly find hope here? What was I going to draw on in order to spark a prolonged period of successful healing? How would I maintain a positive mindset given the circumstances?

Thinking about the situation realistically, I was well aware my football days were over... and that it wouldn't matter what thickness socks I bought from here on out!
I also knew I would need to make major adjustments to my life, but instead of focusing on the things I was no longer able to do, instead of focusing on the negatives - I focused on the things I was still capable of doing, harnessing hope - if you will.

One hope I held early on was getting back to golf - I used to literally dream about it! I have been passionate about the game since I was small and I honed in on the hope that one day I would play again. In my hospital days, it seemed an eternity away, but I was determined.

Initially I had challenges with balance, strength, control etc (falling over was the norm in the beginning) Combine that with the fact that I had to completely reteach myself to swing given my physical predicament. I  eventually got back to playing a great level of golf and I'm proud of the fact that I now play better than before my illness!

Hope gave me a positive pathway through troubled times. We all go through tough times at some stage in our lives, which makes it crucial to find those sparks of hope amidst the darkness. Sometimes they may seem small, but they are there. Make it your everything, remain focused and believe.

"Never deprive someone of hope, it may be all they have" H. Jackson Brown, Jr - Author.

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Use these 4 steps to enter a different zone.

Recently I have been on a completely different path in life, a path that has me operating at a superior level because it has extracted me from the norm - I have been in situations that were uncomfortable and challenged myself in many ways, this in turn has stimulated both professional and personal growth.

Too often we slip into a comfortable rut, it's safe, secure and familiar but it inhibits growth.
"The comfort zone is a behavioural state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviours to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk."

It's not easy to take that step into the unknown, sometimes we are forced into the unknown. Learning how to prepare and thrive through these times is crucial.

4 ways to step outside your comfort zone and grow!

1. Don't take yourself so seriously - 
It's ok to play the fool, worrying what people think about us holds many of us back. No one wants to come across as arrogant, creepy, obnoxious etc but think about the most charismatic, magnetic people you've met. They were more than likely being themselves as opposed to being agreeable and passive.
It's fine to be less than perfect and people will like you for it, so be yourself.

2. Confront fear - 
Most of us are afraid of something in life, spiders, sharks, the dark....  But it's the smaller fears that dictate our direction in life. Ask yourself why you avoid certain situations and the value of doing so - facing these fears may lead to a new adventure or a funny story you may otherwise have sidestepped.

3. Be comfortable with risk - 
It's called a comfort zone because you can navigate through life easily whilst in that zone because you know what to expect. The alternative, taking a leap of faith comes with an element of risk because you may fail. Examine the consequences of failure and be prepared in the event it occurs. The possibility of succeeding is equally important to examine - think about the sense of achievement and satisfaction you'l gain if you do, it may well be worth the risk.

4. Welcome the butterflies - 
Doing the same things over and over will send you hurtling into a deep comfort zone. Be open to trying and doing new things, invite that healthy mix of anxiety and anticipation you get when you are unsure of what will happen next. Say yes more often and approach things with a positive mindset.

Don't mistake taking risks with being reckless and silly. Think hard about the consequences and be open and accepting to the possibility of failure - If it does occur, it won't be the end of the world.

"A ship in a harbour is safe, but that's not what ships are for" John A Shedd

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Challenge irrational beliefs

Irrational beliefs:

What are irrational beliefs -

1.  Messages about life we send to ourselves that keep us from growing emotionally.

2. Unfounded attitudes, opinions, and values we hold to, that are out of synchrony with the way the world really is.

A key point I speak on in my keynote is challenging irrational beliefs. The reason I feel so strongly about this topic is that by challenging irrational beliefs in my own life, it has enabled me to move through life's challenges in a positive way. 

I believe these beliefs inhibit us in our day to day existence, therefore I encourage people to consistently challenge them in order to create positive change in their lives. Too often we tell ourselves "I can't" or " I couldn't" which can subtract from our positivity and productivity. Embrace the unknown and leave yourself open to change or challenges rather than remaining resigned to an "unfounded" belief that it can't be done.

In 2009, I received the news that I had osteomyelitis (bone infection) in the partial foot amputation on my left leg. Although I had various options to consider, I made the decision to amputate below the knee - a tough choice I had to make. 

One of the reasons the decision seemed so hard to me initially, was that I had the irrational belief that I would be stuck in hospital again with months of recovery - similar to my initial stay in 2001 (6 months plus!)
After giving it some serious thought, I smashed this belief by gaining knowledge about the situation (what the operation involved in its entirety) and reasoning with myself about my ability to cope with surgery this time around ( I was now healthier, fitter, stronger than I was all those years ago) 

I had the surgery, left the hospital after just 4 days, had a leg fitted a few short weeks later and I was up and away within a month of undergoing the procedure. 

What beliefs do you hold about yourself? Which of these beliefs are irrational?
Challenge them, challenge yourself. 

Create positive changes in your life, smash irrational beliefs and carve an exciting new path for yourself!

Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective

Speaker - Survivor

Steering to safety

Positivity is key!

As a member of the Limbs 4 Life peer support program http://www.limbs4life.org.au I see people on a regular basis who are faced with extreme life situations/events. An area of extreme importance I focus on during these visits is POSITIVITY!!!

It's not always easy to remain positive during extreme hardship, however, I recently met a young man who's life had changed forever. It was clear he had a long, hard road ahead of him but what struck me about him was his attitude. He was extremely positive....and it was unwavering...

He spoke about the future and about what he wanted to achieve. He spoke about his hunger to fight back and also about the importance of staying strong for his family.

He was focused on what he had the power to control, rather than what he could not. He had specific goals, small goals as well as larger goals, that he was working towards.

I remember walking out of the hospital feeling inspired, feeling upbeat! What an amazing attitude he possessed and it was wonderful to witness that level of positivity!

It reinforced to me that 'positivity is key' in overcoming the various challenges life throws at us, as well as the importance of mental focus and forward thinking!

                                Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective
                                                Speaker - Survivor

1 in 100,000

Navigating through a crisis

Recent statistics on meningococcal in Australia suggest that there is around a 1 in a 100,000 chance of contracting the disease each year, and of that number only around 12% of sufferers will become seriously ill or die. So I was one of the very few people that fell into that 12% bracket and somehow, miraculously survived!

Often people ask me if i feel unlucky, angry, bitter, unfortunate... about getting sick and the answer is, and always will be "no"

I have a different take on it. Being faced with the prospect of living life as a double amputee is most certainly a nightmare! But rather than ask "why me" I asked "why not me?" Those statistics suggest that people do contract the disease, albeit a minute number of people... I just happened to be one of them.

Initially the magnitude of my situation was a lot to take in, it took time to fathom exactly what had happened. Right from the very early stages I tried to focus on any positives - I was alive! I have an amazing family! I was strong enough to overcome this! I still had my hands! I wanted to live! Anything that would keep me focused, and keep my mind in a positive space.

I learnt very early on that dwelling or focusing on the negatives will derail our productivity and seriously inhibit our ability to overcome life's hurdles.

Keys I used to overcome adversity:

* Assess the situation in it's entirety - Know your situation intimately and any issues you may face, it will prevent any unwanted surprises down the line, be aware!

* Focus on the positives - Find something to focus on that gives you hope and drive. In my case, getting back on the golf course was just one focus I had - I read about amputee golf, prosthetics and the latest technologies and set a date for my first game!

* Work hard - Now that you know where you need to be, you're not going to get there by standing still. Work hard to reach your goals, it's the only way!

It's inevitable that we will all face some form of crisis in our lives, it's a part of life. I hope these keys help!

                           Mike Rolls - Enabling through perspective
                                            Speaker - Survivor