From Surviving to Thriving at the Milwaukee Athletic Club

Likely, at a few different points in your life, you’ll consider yourself in “survival mode.” From my experience, it’s about as unpleasant a place to be as Florida, on the hottest day of the year, without AC.

Caring for an ill or aging spouse or parent, having young children, or brokering stressful business transactions–these can all send you into survival mode. But transitioning from surviving to thriving isn’t always a linear process, nor is it easy.  For me, pulling myself out of survival mode after recovering from back-to-back childbirths and chronic pain, required dramatic changes to my lifestyle and mindset.

When I had exhausted every approach and gave way to the idea that slowing down was the only way to speed up healing, I began to see progress. I, like many of us, have access to so many tools that I just wasn’t tapping into or using enough. Internal tools like breathwork and external tools like the Himalayan salt wall sauna at the MAC made their way into my self-care routine. The caring community of like-minded peers I’ve met during my membership at the MAC was also an unexpected boon to my ability to thrive.

As much as I thought I was slowing down and listening to signals from my body, the frequent resurgence of my chronic pain told me otherwise. And surprisingly, I learned that I had perpetuated the pain with my thought patterns, so a full-on-mind-body approach was necessary to get to the root cause.

I’ve had to simplify my approach to self-care to what feels almost primitive. Honestly, some days I talk to myself throughout my morning routine to tackle this often stressful time of day with the utmost ease and resilience.

Because shifting from thriving to surviving can happen quickly, a few ways I’ve been able to transition back on top are:

• Leaning into positive sensations–staying present and imprinting in my brain what a positive sensation feels like to help promote neuroplasticity
• Adjusting expectations and definitions of success (especially when children are involved)
• Staying engaged in activities that bring me joy and keep me distracted from my worries (This is where MAC’s social events and affinity groups really help)
• Checking in with myself throughout the day to reset my mood, mindset, and energy

There is great power in surrendering and listening (really listening) to your gut. Isn’t the best answer or approach often the easiest?

If you’re someone who’s currently found themselves in “survival mode,” or even just a personal slump, a membership at the MAC may be just what you need to prioritize your physical, mental, and social well-being. Download our Membership Guide to see all we have to offer, or better yet, book a tour!