Near the End of Recovery: How Stoic Mantras and REBT “Psychological Push-Ups” Have Helped Me
As I near the end of my ankle surgery recovery, I’ve been reflecting on what’s helped me get through these past months. Healing hasn’t just been about bones, tendons, and muscles—it’s been about patience, mindset, and resilience.
One idea that’s stayed with me and guided me through the tougher days comes from Marcus Aurelius:
“If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining!”
At first glance, this may sound a little harsh. But for me, it’s been liberating. Every time I caught myself spiraling into frustration—about pain, restrictions, or just the monotony of recovery—I reminded myself of this simple truth: If I can endure it, I don’t need to make it worse by complaining about it in my head.
And the thing is, I have endured it. Day by day, the recovery has unfolded. Not always comfortably, not always gracefully, but always forward.
REBT and “Psychological Push-Ups”
Alongside the Stoics, I’ve also leaned heavily on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). One of my favorite modern REBT teachers, Dr. Walter Matweychuk (of REBTdoctor.com), talks about doing “psychological push-ups.”
Just like physical push-ups build and maintain strength, psychological push-ups are mental exercises we repeat to build and maintain emotional resilience. They aren’t one-off insights—they’re practices.
For me, these push-ups have looked like:
Challenging my irrational beliefs daily: When I’d think, “This pain is unbearable!” I’d push back: “It’s uncomfortable, but it’s not unbearable. I can stand it.”
Turning demands into preferences: Shifting from “I must recover faster!” to “I’d prefer to heal faster, but I can accept the pace my body sets.”
Reaffirming self-worth: Reminding myself that I am not defined by my temporary limitations.
Like physical rehab, these psychological exercises are about consistency, not perfection. Some days I felt stronger, other days weaker—but doing the push-ups meant I never lost all the progress I’d made.
Stoicism + REBT: A Powerful Combo
Marcus Aurelius’ mantra gave me the frame: if I can endure it, then endure it. REBT gave me the tools: specific exercises to keep my thoughts rational, balanced, and self-supportive.
Together, they’ve helped me transform recovery from something to merely “get through” into something I can actually learn from.
Final Reflections
As I prepare to step into the final phase of recovery and back into normal life, I feel more mentally resilient than before my injury. I know there will be other challenges ahead—health-related or otherwise—but I also know I’ve strengthened my ability to face them without being consumed by them.
So if you’re going through something tough right now, maybe borrow the wisdom that’s been guiding me:
“If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining!”
And don’t forget your psychological push-ups. They may not make the challenge vanish, but they’ll make you stronger and steadier in the face of it.
