Hanging On and Letting Go: A Personal Story of Progress

I stood on the high wire platform, strapped into a harness, frozen.

My kids were ready to go, fearless and excited. But me? I couldn’t move. My heart was racing, my legs like jelly. Eventually, I had to make the call: I stepped down and let my children do the course without me.

I was flooded with self-doubt and disappointment.I felt like I’d let them down.And honestly—I felt like I’d let myself down.

But I’m not one to give up. I decided to try a level down.

What followed was a sweaty, nerve-racking, slightly humiliating series of zip lines. As soon as I launched myself off the first one, I was committed. I had to finish the whole thing. By the time I was back on solid ground, I was a hot mess, physically and emotionally.

I sat in the shade, heart pounding, feeling defeated.

Then something shifted.

I remembered the advice I give my patients all the time—"Treat yourself with compassion. Trust your body. Start where you are."Why was I so quick to forget that advice when it came to myself?

In stroke rehab, I regularly coach people to rebuild trust in their bodies. To push themselves just enough - not too far, not too fast. I help people imagine what it could feel like to walk with confidence again, to move freely, to feel safe and strong.

And so I took my own medicine.

I visualised myself doing the course calmly, smiling, having fun. I imagined letting go, trusting the equipment, laughing with my kids.

A couple of days later I went back.

This time, I started with the easiest course.

Then the next.

And then the hardest one.

I had fun. I finished them all.

I wasn’t any fitter or more capable than before.What had changed?

My mindset. My compassion. My belief.

The Big Takeaway

You don’t always have to be stronger or braver to make progress.Often, it begins with being kinder to yourself — starting gently, building trust, and opening up to the possibility of a different outcome.

This is exactly what I help stroke survivors do every day.

Whether you’re relearning to walk or facing a fear of falling... Whether you’re rebuilding arm movement or finding your confidence…

Start where you are.Believe in what’s possible.And don’t underestimate the power of beginning again—differently.