How to THRIVE : Six Steps to Rebuild Your Health and Wellness

In my book, Glimpse of God’s Glory: One Woman’s Near Death Experience, I share how I ended up in the ICU in a medically induced coma. God wrapped me in His presence and took me into the heavenlies,  I share that magnificent miracle in my interactive memoir, and I also share many practical outcomes like: living with gratitude, lasar-focusing your life goals and priorities, as well as how to rebuild a life emotionally, spiritually and physically.

The first verse God gave me after I woke from my coma was:

“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:13, NIV)

God also has led my path to rebuild, and restore my health. Here are

Six Simple Actions to THRIVE: 

(Watch video webinar on this)

“The righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” (Proverbs 11:28, ESV)

In. the above verse thrive means to flourish and blossom profusely.  It also denotes a budding and sprouting that grows into a wealthy and enriched life.

Take Small Steps

“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)

After my hospital recovery, I found that gradual progress was essential. As my friend, Danna Demtre wisely says, “Small steps add up in a big way over time.”  And my friend, Vickie Heath, President of First Place 4 Health adds, “Something is better than nothing.” When it comes to movement and exercise. I began with a few hundred steps a day, walking laps around the nurses’ station with Bill while we prayed. Gradually, our walks expanded to the neighborhood, malls, the dock where our boat is docked, then the near by beach. Using a Fit Bit, I aimed to take one more step each day, by parking farther from store entrances, taking the stairs over elevators, which helped me to ultimately reach 10,000 steps daily. To enhance my motivation, I would hum the Christmas song lyrics, “Just put one step in front of the other.”

What’s your favorite place to walk? You are more likely to walk in places you enjoy. Schedule your walks in a few of your favorite spots.

Harness the Power of Movement 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23, NIV)

Let God be your personal trainer. As you pray, He will inspire you with new ideas for exercise. I started by incorporating gentle exercises into my daily routine—stretching using a Pilates ring, five minutes of stretching with a phone APP, swimming, and water aerobics. I eventually progressed to more intense activities like Pilates studio classes and Praise Moves, and a simple ballet bar routine set to praise music, I also invested in Stretch Lab sessions. When scripture, worship, and exercise intertwine, they nourish both spirit and body.

Reach for New Challenges

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me,”  (Phil 4:19)

I set goals to rebuild strength and perseverance. This included band workouts, weights, and circuit training at the marina workout room. Bill gifted me “Penalty Box” HIIT sessions once a week, while I also adapted online workouts like Body and Soul, AARP’s Silver Sneakers, and First Place 4 Health Inner Circle workouts.. The feeling of triumph I experienced from completing in-person classes and boot camp-style workouts was akin to me of winning an Olympic gold medal!

Invest in Relationships

“Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
— Proverbs 27:17

To foster my healing journey, I intentionally invested in relationships by:

• Seeking time with my FP4H leaders
• Reading recommended books from friends, family, and medical experts.
• Reaching out to friends who had rebuilt their lives after significant challenges.
• Gaining insights from doctors, nurses, and online experts on YouTube.
• Scheduling physical therapy sessions with both my family (DIL is a Physical therapist, son is a strength coach)  and other medical professionals.
• Engaging  my grandkids, in fun activities like walks, time at the park, and kid-friendly exercise videos (like Danny Go!)
• Sharing my struggles with my ministry prayer team for support.

This commitment to nurturing relationships has been a vital part of my healing process.

Venture into Delightful Distractions

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

Even in moments of weakness, I held onto the belief that God was guiding my path. I embraced delightful distractions by setting new goals, especially if they added joy  to me like line dancing and signing up for a tap dance class at the senior center, (so I could later  joyfully tap with my granddaughter. ) I participated in a Persian dance class to strengthen my arms and core, played football, softball, or soccer with my grandkids, and celebrated family gatherings with line dancing. Each morning, with praise music or golden oldies in the background, I danced by nostalgic moves like the twist, the swim, and the pony. or Cupid’s Shuffle. To hold on to hope, I envisioned future activities, like walking 5Ks for charity, planning hiking trips with family,  kayaking and paddle boarding from our boat. with my husband.  Through these joyful pursuits, God instilled in me the determination to embrace a  dreaming of dancing with my beloved husband  at my wedding anniversary.

One way to discover and add fun to your workout is to think back and reenact activities you enjoyed as a child: twirl a baton, bicycle, hula hoop, rollarskate, ping pong, jumprope, etc. What activities did you enjoy growing up?

Embrace LIFE!

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

The greek word for life is Zoe: LIFE! emotional, spiritual, physical, relational, mental, LIFE created and sustained by God alone.

My comeback story wasn’t just about physical health, but about embracing the new opportunities God was placing before me—whether it was caring for my grandchildren, returning to first zoom coaching and online ministry, then traveling to speak, and/ or writing new books. My mantra became:

Do next thing that stretches you to depend on God

These steps to THRIVE worked! At the end of year one, I posted this on Facebook :

Jumping for #joy! One year ago today, I woke from a coma. God gave me the clear word that my work was not yet complete here on earth. These are the books released in the last year! And I am currently writing a devotional with my beloved Bill. Many thanks to coauthors, Jean E Jones, Karla Dornacher (Discovering Wisdom in Proverbs) and Karen Whiting (Growing a Joyful Heart devotional). A shout out to Michelle Rayburn for the honor of writing a chapter and foreward for her #boymombook (Plus The WISDOM creative quiet time journal is from our imprint LOVE-WISE )

God taught me how to THRIVE and rejuvenate my fitness and health, so about six months after my year one ICU anniversary, out of the blue,  I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and am undergoing chemo treatments, Today, I still use these same simple six steps to THRIVE! Praying YOU THRIVE too!

Pam Farrel is the bestselling author of 61 books, an international speaker, relationship and life coach, and mentor of budding authors and speakers. She and her husband make their home on a live-aboard boat docked in So. Ca. They enjoy activities of fun in the sun together– and with their three sons, three daughters in law, and seven grandchildren. Together they Co-Direct Love-Wise ministry. Watch Pam’s webinar for First Place 4 Health on this topic.