It was like an elephant was standing on my right hip. The absolute worst physical pain I’ve ever experienced.
And my gallbladder done blowed up real good. I’ve had an internal organ actually rupture!
This pain was worse.
It was like an elephant was standing on my right hip. The absolute worst physical pain I’ve ever experienced.
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I got my dad to take me to the ER at around 10:30 that night. Like six hours later, I was diagnosed with kidney stones.
After an ultrasound, this kidney stone was determined to be approximately 8mm in size. That’s a big, honkin’ kidney stone that I wasn’t going to pass without help.
Two days later, I was brought in for an outpatient procedure called a lithotripsy. This essentially shot soundwaves up into my kidney, turning my stone into powder.
Some people are prone to kidney stones. People who don’t drink enough water, lose a lot of water through exercise, or people who eat a high protein diet can be prone to stones. Among other factors, of course.
The water consumption had never been a problem for me before. But I do sweat a ton on days when I work out (which is pretty much every day) and I also eat a high protein diet.
This was – I believe – in the fall of 2010. I’ve had a couple minor kidney stone incidents since then, but only one major incident where I had to go to the ER late one night.
Praise Odin, am I right?
A lot of factors go into how much water a human needs. Are they physically active? Do they eat high water fruits and veggies like broccoli and melons? Do they drink a lot of dehydrating liquids – coffee and alcoholic drinks for example. Are they pregnant or nursing? Are they under one year of age? Have they had kidney stones before?
Look, I do my best to drink at least a gallon of water every day. Even more if I’m physically active that day (which, again, is pretty much every day.)
And I’ve just spend over 300 words talking about water consumption. But this isn’t about physical health and the benefits of water.
Just as water is essential for life, so are breakthroughs essential for personal transformation.
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This is about your transformational health and living your biggest and baddest life.
This is about living the life of a king!
But let’s continue to stretch this hydro metaphor to its limits, shall we?
I’ve been swimming in a ton of breakthroughs lately. Some of these breakthroughs have been scary and intimidating, not unlike a river raging with rapids.
And I know, breakthroughs are a good thing. But in my mind, the next step after I have a big breakthrough is “what’s next?” It’s like I mentioned on a recent session with my coach – what’s next for my big, nasty breakthrough?
Side note: #teambignasty has become an ironic hashtag in my circle. I don’t know why.
While I have a disdain for this particular cliché, it’s appropriate for what’s next. It hit me like a bag of bricks where I needed to go.
Let’s say you’re a football player about to go into a two-a-day practice during August training camp. You need to do a few things.
Two of the most important things you need to do is to make sure you’ve eaten well and make sure you’ve drunk enough water before you go out and work.
Water is essential for life.
Breakthroughs are essential for personal transformation.
Let’s step back and define what a breakthrough is. There are many different definitions, and this may not be a textbook definition, but here’s my coach Ryan definition.
A breakthrough is simply a new way of being that wasn’t available for you before. It removes a blind spot from your life.
And I’ve had a ton of breakthroughs lately. My vision is getting bigger and wider. I’ve started to embrace the power and the weight that my voice carries. I trained under some of the world’s finest coaches. And I’m also part of a community of the world’s finest coaches. I’m a brilliant writer and a future New York Times bestselling author (you read it here first.) I am a brilliant human and I need to let my light illuminate the world.
In other words, I’m a badass and the world need to know it.
I used to see these breakthroughs as something to fear, in a way. Because if I have a breakthrough then I’d have to use it and perform.
In transformational work (which, y’know, is a major part of my life) the breakthrough isn’t the goal. The goal is putting those breakthroughs into practice. It’s about using the breakthrough to support you in growing your big, bad, bold life.
So, what’s next? How can you shift your relationship to transformation? How can you take your life from struggling, to stratosphere? How can you use your breakthrough to hydrate your life?
My coaching this week is simple. The only coaching I have in this area is to keep moving forward. If you have a breakthrough in an area of life that’s important to you, keep moving forward. Ask yourself – “how can I use this to push forward an aspect of my life that’s important to me?”
The breakthrough isn’t the goal. The goal is putting those breakthroughs into practice.
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For example, I’m using my breakthrough in owning my voice to propel my relationship with Potential forward in a positive manner (y’all remember Potential, right?) And y’know what, things with Potential are looking up. Because I’m using this breakthrough to hydrate my big, bold life. And having a happy, loving, passionate relationship is part of my bold, badass vision.
Guess what? I can support you in redefining your relationship with your own breakthroughs. All you need to do is send me an email at [email protected] and we’ll connect on a test drive session.
Don’t get me wrong, breakthroughs are important. But what’s more important? Would you rather hit 50 free throws in a row during practice when the gym is empty? Or would you rather go on the road and hit the one free throw that wins the game in front of 20 thousand people who are out for your blood?
Let your breakthroughs hydrate your big, bold, badass, powerful life.
Trust me…ontological kidney stones suck! Drink your breakthrough water!
Photo by Chronis Giannakakis
Ryan, we’d love to send you some samples of our kidney stone supplements to try out. They’ll make a big difference. If you’d had one stone, there’s a 75% chance you’ll have another. Just email me [email protected] and I’ll mail you out some.