02/02/2026
Spoon theory doesn't make sense to everyone and that's ok.
Part of the work that I do is figuring out with each individual client which method of thinking or analogy make sense to them in a way that makes it so easy to use every day.
This is one such model!
Bump: a bump into its symptoms is okay. We greet them, we name them, and we allow them to bump or increase a point or two up on your personal tolerance scale. This is meant to change and improve over time. What you bump early in recovery is not the same thing as what you bump years down the road in healing and life
Push: a push is something that you push into or against as far as symptoms. Again we acknowledge why the symptoms are happening and remind the body it is safe. A push has a why or a priority that you know is important to you and it's worth the push. Again what you can push early in the journey is very different than what you can push later on. As your strategies get better this also changes because you're recovery time from a push shortens.
Shove: shoves happen either by life or by situation. We again acknowledge symptoms, and we pull out all the strategies and tips and techniques to help navigate the best you can. There is intentionality in your recovery and how you can build back up to a bump.
A few questions you can ask yourself:
Do I bump enough? Because this speaks to improved cognitive and physical endurance.
What is worth a push? Because having your world get too small is so detrimental to healing.
What are my strategies for shoves? Because life will certainly give us situations and events that require us to know exactly what are best strategies are to get back to bumps as quickly as we can.
If bumps, pushes, and shoves is also a spoonful of no thanks for you, I encourage you to consider what analogy aligns best with your continued learning for managing capacity and symptoms.
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