Tap Into Your Inner (ALS) Astronaut

 

What do we have in common with an astronaut who is trying to survive while stranded on a hostile planet?

Answer: We share the ability to tap into our resourcefulness, resiliency, and optimism.

Perhaps you had a different answer to my question, especially if you have ALS or care for someone who does. Maybe something more like: “You bet I feel stranded! Even medical experts don’t have answers! And to top it off, things go wrong every day. There is no hope!”

Those certainly are normal thoughts and reactions when we’re first confronted with what seems like a hopeless situation. But rather than wallow in self-pity and give up, our next steps should be to assess what happened and then plan a solution. In other words, think like a stranded astronaut who wants to survive and just go home.

Why an astronaut?

Why all the talk about astronauts? Because one of my favorite movies is “The Martian,” starring Matt Damon. It’s a movie that always leaves me inspired and motivated to go out and seize the day. And I enjoy watching it again whenever our streaming service hits a pause in new releases.

The fictional story is about astronaut Mark Watney, who is left behind on a far-off planet through no fault of his own. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and depressed with the situation, he rallies. He solves one problem, then the next problem, then the next.

One … at … a … time. 

Even when it seems that the odds are against him and Murphy’s Law creates impossible setbacks, Watney takes a deep breath and simply starts all over again.

But it’s only a movie! Yes. But for me, the story itself is a refreshing change from the current wave of fantasy superheroes with superpowers who blast their way to success. In contrast, astronaut Watney relies on logic, know-how, and a positive attitude.

How to tap into your inner astronaut:

·        Stay in the moment, don’t think too far ahead.

·        Keep your mind focused on solutions.

·        Be open to innovations and unique workarounds.

·        Have a plan and a purpose.

·        Don’t give up hope. 

By the way, if you haven’t yet seen “The Martian,” I highly recommend you do so.

Closer to home

In case you need a more tangible hero for your inspiration — someone who’s right here on Earth — look no further than the late Augie Nieto. He was the founder of Life Fitness, chairman of the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and had been living with ALS since 2005... almost 18 years! Here’s a recent quote from Augie:

 “You can either celebrate what you can do, or mourn what you can’t. Every day I wake up and create a new normal. I don’t dwell on what has changed, but instead, I focus on keeping busy achieving my goals.”

We all experience good days and bad days.

Think of the times you’ve faced a challenge by calmly thinking about what needed to be done and then making it happen. You were using your resourcefulness, resiliency, and positive attitude. You have the ability — you just have to use it!

I believe we can live well while living with ALS.

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To learn how to regain your balance, the same way astronauts do, read this post: Balance - - from Outer Space to Inner Ear

Dagmar Munn    
ALS and Wellness Blogger 

“Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.”

Gever Tulley

A version of this post first appeared as my column on the ALS News Today website.