Connect: Building a Community for Blood Clot Recovery and Prevention
After my first pulmonary embolism, I joined online support groups, and that initial education was invaluable. But as I progressed in my physical and mental recovery and entered new chapters of life (hello, menopause!), I realized online support groups were no longer a good fit for me.
My experience tells me that grief and loss are things you sit with for a while, but you can't stay there. You have to move to live. So my doc suggested building SMART Connections.
Why Connection Matters
As women, we thrive on connection. It's in our nature to seek out community, share our experiences, and support each other. But in today's busy world, it's easy to become isolated and disconnected, especially when facing health challenges.
This is why building meaningful connections is so important, not just for recovering from blood clots, but for our overall health and well-being. When we connect with others who understand our struggles, we feel less alone, more supported, and more empowered to take control of our health.
Beyond the Diagnosis
But it's also important to remember that we are more than our diagnoses. Blood clots may be a chapter in our story, but they don't define us. We are women with dreams, passions, and a desire to live life to the fullest.
I don't want to be stuck in just one chapter of a beautiful story that's already been written. I want to live it out loud and in full color. And I believe that connecting with other women who share this vision can help us all move forward with hope and resilience.
What Are SMART Connections?
SMART connections are based on the principles of SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. They empower you to take action and drive those important parts of blood clot prevention and recovery. They also help you live with faith and confidence that everything is going to be okay.
The Power of SMART Connections
SMART connections cultivate adaptability and resilience, developing a mindset and skill set that enables you to thrive in diverse and dynamic environments.
Here's how SMART connections work:
- Goal Setting & Learning: Setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals requires continual learning and acquiring new knowledge or skills. This helps you become your own best self-advocate.
- Feedback & Growth: SMART connections often involve receiving feedback on your progress toward goals. Constructive feedback allows you to refine your approaches and supports growth.
- Discipline & Structure: The time-bound aspect of SMART goals promotes discipline and time management. Consistently adhering to timelines instills a sense of structure and order, which is helpful when adopting lifestyle changes to reduce your clotting risks or being compliant with medications and follow-up appointments.
- Collaboration & Problem-Solving: SMART connections often involve collaboration and shared problem-solving. This exposes you to diverse ways of thinking and problem-solving strategies, paving the way for patient-centered care.
- Confidence & Resilience: Successfully achieving SMART goals contributes to a sense of accomplishment and increased self-confidence. Confident individuals are more likely to approach new situations with resilience. It helps you navigate healthcare and allows you to trust your body again to move forward.
- Growth Mindset: Engaging in SMART connections often requires adopting a growth mindset, seeing challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement, especially when it comes to your health.
- Positive Habits: SMART connections often involve developing positive habits that support health and wellness goals. Habits such as consistency and prioritization contribute to an overall lifestyle of adaptability and sustainability.
Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap
Numerous studies have shown that intention to change behavior alone does not often result in actual behavior change. Intention precedes action; therefore, one must act on one’s intentions in order to change behavior. (PMID: 31662729)
SMART connections provide the framework and support to bridge this gap and turn intentions into actions.
More Than Support
One of the blessings of being a blood clot survivor is understanding that the purpose and depth of connections are far greater than the amount of connections.
Build connections that will help you move forward in your health and wellness goals. Join our community and become part of a network of women who are actively working towards a healthier, more fulfilling life after blood clots.
