Mindfulness through Vince's Eye
Imagine one day using the practice of mindfulness to compete at an Olympic level in weightlifting; and the next month using mindfulness to reconnect to your worth after surviving an ischemic stroke.
Vince Holland did just that after his brain injury July 4th, 2016.
Vince’s stroke happened the evening of July 4th.
An ischemic stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blockage and the subsequent lack of oxygen to whichever part of the brain that has been blocked determines the symptoms of the injury. Thankfully, Holland was able to get the critical care he needed and today, he is not only a brain injury survivor but he gives back to the brain-injury-survivor community through mindfulness.
It’s important to acknowledge that Vince’s road to recovery was not an easy one, he recalls, “there were so many invisible parts to the injury.”
Initially, he felt disconnected and didn’t know how to contribute to his community. “I [thought] to myself: okay, I’m 28. I can’t work. Sports are out of the window. My body doesn’t even move the same way. Not only was I limited physically and within my community, but my identity started to change with how I saw myself and who I thought I was.”
For Vince, this involved taking a lot of notes. After his stroke, he had to learn to write again while dealing with the added weight of not having his memory in the same place it was before. He would write on sticky notes, record voice notes, journal, and even sit down and email himself a thought he had about his day: “For example, I might say “Hey! I had this small victory this morning. I woke up when I meant to and made myself breakfast!”
After surviving a brain injury, victory took on a new meaning to the olympic weight lifting champion.
Mindfulness in brain injury recovery has much more to do with personal victories than material gains, things to add to a resume, or accomplishments to publish to social media. And with that in mind, Vince believes in owning your victories, no matter the size.
Another tip Holland has for the Heal the Brain Community is acknowledging the value of vulnerability and “making a space to share those vulnerabilities with others. Recognizing that there are people who are in the same boat as you can be comforting, and through this, you’re able to offer yourself a degree of gentleness as you move forward with recovery.”
There’s an element to brain injuries known as “cognitive fatigue.” Holland likened it to the feeling you get after cramming for an exam for hours and getting to a point where you’re no longer able to absorb information because it’s too overwhelming for the brain. In these cases, he recommends you stay mindful of the way your senses can become exhausted and to ground yourself by “being present in the moment. That’s where I find the power to control things.”
Vince also highlighted the importance of breathing in the practice of mindfulness after surviving a brain injury. It reconnects you to your existing senses, and the best part is that everyone can do it. When you’re feeling off-centered, Holland recommends that you “take the moment captive and just be attentive to the breath. The cooling sensation of the inhale. The rising sensation of the shoulders and chest. That calming exhale where you empty your thoughts and take in your surroundings.”
Slow down your breathing; breath in, breath out.
Get out of your mind and into your senses, because despite the way the word sounds, being mindful actually has nothing to do with having a full mind -- in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
By Kimi Ahmadi