''Everything Happens for a Reason' Is Bullsh*t' — Quadruple Amputee Tom Nash on Reframing Adversity

Tom Nash knows what it means to have your life change in an instant. At just 19, he contracted meningococcal sepsis, fell into a coma and woke up to find his arms and legs had been amputated to save his life. Looking back on his chat with me, Tom explores the power of reframing adversity, why positive thinking isn't about pretending everything is okay, and how learning to find a different perspective can become a skill that gets stronger with practice. He explains why he prefers “fear setting” to traditional goal setting, and why focusing on the next small milestone rather than an overwhelming end goal helped him learn to walk again with prosthetics. Tom also challenges the idea that “everything happens for a reason”, arguing instead that we have the power to give meaning and purpose to what happens to us. From everyday frustrations to life-changing adversity, his philosophy is about distinguishing between what we can and can't control — and concentrating our energy on what is directly in front of us. LINKS  Listen to the full episode with Tom here Follow Tom (@djhookie) on Instagram  More from Tom on Substack Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected]  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.