Episode # 114: Overcoming Adversity with Purpose: Amberly Lago's Path to Empowerment

✍️ Episode Overview - Overcoming Adversity

In this inspiring episode of The 5 Core Life podcast, host Will Moore sits down with the remarkable Amberly Lago, a resilience coach, TEDx speaker, and author of "True Grit and Grace." Amberly shares her extraordinary journey of overcoming a devastating motorcycle accident that left her with a rare nerve disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Through her story, listeners gain invaluable insights into the power of mindset, the importance of community, and the transformative impact of gratitude in the face of life-altering challenges.

Amberly's narrative is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. From facing a 1% chance of saving her leg to battling addiction and contemplating suicide, she emerged stronger, more purposeful, and deeply committed to helping others find their path to resilience. Throughout the conversation, Amberly and Will explore practical strategies for cultivating a growth mindset, the significance of self-care in preventing burnout, and the role of faith and community in the healing process.

This episode is not just about overcoming adversity; it's a masterclass in mental fortitude, emotional intelligence, and the power of reframing life's most challenging moments. Listeners will leave with actionable tools, like Amberly's PACER method and Will's CBRP technique, to navigate their own obstacles and emerge victorious. Whether you're facing personal challenges, seeking inspiration, or looking to build greater resilience in your life, this conversation with Amberly Lago offers a roadmap to transforming adversity into an opportunity for growth and empowerment.

📖 Chapter Summaries

1. From Tragedy to Triumph: Amberly's Life-Altering Accident [00:00 - 09:42] Amberly recounts the harrowing motorcycle accident that changed her life forever. She describes the severity of her injuries, including a severed femoral artery and the diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Despite facing a mere 1% chance of saving her leg, Amberly's determination shines through as she undergoes 34 surgeries to avoid amputation. This chapter sets the stage for her incredible journey of resilience and introduces listeners to the physical and emotional challenges she faced in the aftermath of the accident.

2. Battling Addiction and Finding Sobriety [09:43 - 19:30] In this powerful segment, Amberly opens up about her struggle with alcohol addiction as a coping mechanism for chronic pain. She shares the moment of clarity that led her to seek help, highlighting the importance of reaching out and admitting vulnerability. Amberly's journey to sobriety is marked by courage, humility, and the transformative power of community support. She emphasizes the significance of taking that first step towards recovery and the ripple effect it can have on one's life and relationships. Read More: How Long Does it Take to Break an Addiction

3. The Power of Mindset: Shifting from Victim to Victor [19:31 - 29:18] Amberly and Will delve into the crucial role of mindset in overcoming adversity. They discuss the distinction between a "fixed victim" mentality and a "growth owner" perspective, with Amberly sharing how she consciously chose to be an example of resilience for her children. This chapter explores practical strategies for cultivating a positive mindset, including the power of gratitude, self-awareness, and reframing negative thoughts. Amberly introduces her PACER method, offering listeners a tangible tool for navigating challenging emotions and situations.

4. Building Resilience Through Community and Self-Care [29:19 - 38:57] The conversation shifts to the importance of community support and self-care in building resilience. Amberly shares her experiences with various support groups, from recovery meetings to mastermind groups, highlighting how connection and shared experiences can be powerful catalysts for growth. She also emphasizes the critical role of self-care, discussing how she incorporates rest and recovery into her daily routine as a business strategy. This chapter provides valuable insights into creating a balanced life that supports long-term resilience and success.

5. Actionable Tools for Overcoming Adversity [38:58 - 44:18] In the final segment, Will and Amberly exchange practical tools for managing adversity and maintaining a positive outlook. Will introduces his CBRP (Catch, Breathe, Remind and Reflect, Pivot) technique, while Amberly elaborates on her PACER (Perspective, Acceptance, Community, Endurance, Rest) method. They discuss the importance of personalizing these strategies to fit individual needs and the power of consistent practice. This chapter serves as a practical guide for listeners, offering concrete steps to implement in their own lives when facing challenges or seeking personal growth.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Resilience is a Superpower: Amberly's journey demonstrates that resilience is not just about bouncing back from adversity, but about using challenges as catalysts for personal growth. She emphasizes that everyone has the capacity for resilience; it's about learning how to tap into it. Developing this "superpower" involves cultivating a growth mindset, practicing gratitude, and consistently choosing to view obstacles as opportunities for learning and improvement.

2. The Power of Radical Acceptance: Amberly's story highlights the transformative power of accepting life's circumstances, even when they're challenging. Radical acceptance doesn't mean giving up or liking the situation, but rather acknowledging reality as it is. This acceptance can be a crucial first step in moving forward and finding solutions. For Amberly, accepting her new reality with CRPS was key to focusing on what she could do rather than dwelling on limitations.

3. Gratitude as a Mindset Shift Tool: Practicing gratitude emerged as a powerful tool for shifting perspective and building resilience. Amberly shares how she consciously focuses on what she's grateful for, especially during difficult moments. This practice helps redirect attention from pain or negative circumstances to positive aspects of life. Implementing a daily gratitude practice, such as listing 10 things you're thankful for, can significantly impact your overall outlook and emotional well-being.

4. The Importance of Community Support: Both Amberly and Will emphasize the crucial role of community in overcoming adversity. Whether it's through recovery meetings, mastermind groups, or close friendships, having a support system can provide encouragement, accountability, and shared wisdom. Amberly's "God Squad" gratitude group exemplifies how connecting with others can reinforce positive habits and provide emotional support during challenging times.

5. Personalized Coping Strategies: The episode introduces two powerful acronyms for managing adversity: Will's CBRP (Catch, Breathe, Remind and Reflect, Pivot) and Amberly's PACER (Perspective, Acceptance, Community, Endurance, Rest). These tools offer structured approaches to handling difficult emotions and situations. The key takeaway is to find or develop personalized strategies that resonate with you and practice them consistently to build resilience.

6. Reframing Negative Thoughts: A crucial aspect of overcoming adversity is learning to reframe negative self talk. Amberly shares how she shifted from hating her injured leg to viewing it as a masterpiece of healing. This reframing process involves consciously challenging negative self-talk and looking for alternative, more empowering perspectives. Practice catching negative thoughts and actively seeking positive or growth-oriented interpretations.

7. The Role of Self-Care in Resilience: Amberly emphasizes the importance of self-care, particularly rest, in building and maintaining resilience. She views rest as a crucial part of her business strategy, highlighting that burnout often occurs when we forget our 'why.' Incorporate regular rest periods into your schedule, and view them as essential to your overall success and well-being, not as a luxury or weakness.

8. Embracing Imperfection and Learning from Setbacks: Amberly's openness about her sobriety slip-up underscores the importance of embracing imperfection in the journey of personal growth. Rather than letting setbacks define you, view them as learning opportunities. Be compassionate with yourself, analyze what led to the setback, and use that information to strengthen your resolve and strategies moving forward.

9. The Power of a Strong 'Why': Throughout the episode, the importance of having a strong purpose or 'why' is evident. For Amberly, her children and the desire to be an example of resilience provided powerful motivation. Identify your core motivations for overcoming challenges and connect with them regularly. This can provide the emotional fuel needed to persist through difficult times.

10. Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Both CBRP and PACER methods incorporate elements of mindfulness. Practicing present moment awareness can help interrupt negative thought patterns and create space for more constructive responses. Consider incorporating mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation into your daily routine to build this skill.

11. The Ripple Effect of Personal Growth: Amberly's story illustrates how personal growth and resilience can positively impact others. By overcoming her challenges, she not only improved her own life but also became an inspiration and source of help for others. Remember that your journey of overcoming adversity has the potential to positively influence those around you.

12. Balancing the Five Core Areas of Life: Will's concept of the Five Core Areas of Life (Mindset, Career & Finances, Relationships, Physical Health, and Emotional & Mental Health) provides a framework for holistic well-being. Strive for balance and growth across all these areas, recognizing how progress in one area can positively impact the others.

13. The Power of Incremental Progress: Both Amberly and Will emphasize the importance of small, consistent actions in overcoming adversity. Whether it's standing for a few seconds longer each day or gradually building new habits, focus on incremental progress rather than dramatic overnight changes. Celebrate these small victories as they compound over time.

14. Leveraging Technology for Well-being: Amberly mentions using tools like the Oura ring to track and prioritize rest. Consider how technology can support your well-being journey, whether it's through health tracking devices, mindfulness apps, or digital communities for support and accountability.

15. Cultivating a Growth Owner Mindset: The distinction between a "fixed victim" and a "growth owner" mindset is crucial. Cultivate a growth owner mindset by viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, taking responsibility for your reactions to circumstances, and consistently seeking ways to improve and adapt. This mindset shift can be transformative in facing and overcoming adversity.

🥇 Golden Habit

In this episode, Amberly Lago shares a powerful Golden Habit that has been crucial in her journey of overcoming adversity: daily gratitude practice.

"A 'Golden Habit' is the optimal habit to relieve a pain point/replace a bad habit because it's personalized to your DNA, goals, and lifestyle in order to maximally reduce the friction to form it.

The Golden Habit should be: - DESIRABLE: Should be enjoyable and rewarding. - PRACTICAL: Must easily integrate into one's existing routines. - IMPACTFUL: Expected to significantly enhance well-being."

This Episode's Golden Habit: Amberly's Golden Habit is her daily gratitude practice with her "God Squad" group. Every day, she and her friends write to each other, sharing 10 things they're grateful for. This habit exemplifies a Golden Habit because:

1. It's desirable: Sharing gratitude with friends creates a positive, supportive environment that people look forward to engaging with daily. 2. It's practical: Writing a gratitude list can be done quickly and easily, fitting into even the busiest schedules. 3. It's impactful: Regular gratitude practice has been shown to significantly improve mental health, resilience, and overall life satisfaction.

Amberly mentions this habit at around [36:50] in the podcast, emphasizing how it helps shift her perspective, especially during challenging times.

Related Core Area:

This Golden Habit primarily aligns with the Emotional & Mental Health Core. By consistently practicing gratitude, Amberly addresses the pain point of negative thought patterns and the tendency to focus on life's challenges. Instead, this habit trains the mind to recognize and appreciate positive aspects of life, fostering emotional resilience and mental well-being.

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🫅 Bio - Amberly Lago

Amberly Lago is a resilience coach, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and author who has inspired thousands with her story of overcoming extreme adversity. After a devastating motorcycle accident in 2010, Amberly faced a 1% chance of saving her leg from amputation. Despite enduring 34 surgeries and being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare nerve disease dubbed "the suicide disease," she fought to save her leg and her life.

Drawing from her experiences, Amberly authored the best-selling book "True Grit and Grace: Turning Tragedy Into Triumph," which details her journey from tragedy to triumph. As a leading expert in resilience, Amberly has shared her story and strategies on various platforms, including her top-rated podcast "True Grit and Grace."

With over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Amberly combines her professional expertise with her personal journey to deliver powerful messages of hope, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organizations develop mental strength, emotional intelligence, and unshakeable resilience. Through her speaking engagements, coaching programs, and written works, Amberly continues to inspire and empower others to overcome their own challenges and live their best lives.