A Better Eternal Perspective On Life Living with Hearing Loss

Do you view obstacles in life from an “eternal perspective” or a “worldly perspective?” You have heard of the old cliché: “You don’t realize what you had until it’s gone, right? I mean, who hasn’t? Learn how hearing loss taught me an eternal perspective on life.

Growing up, I used to think those were useless words with no meaning whatsoever. It is all about perspective, though.

Sometimes, we approach things from an earthly perspective when we need to readjust our focus to view them from an eternal perspective.

Now that I’m an adult, I realize how true that “cliche” is! Living with hearing loss forces you to consider an eternal perspective.

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How Can Unexpected Obstacles help you view things from an eternal perspective?

We often take things for granted, assuming they’ll always be there, right? For example, it may be the loss of a loved one, a relationship gone wrong, a friendship that is beyond repair, or a diagnosis that you weren’t expecting.

It can mean many things to every single one of us. No one can say that they haven’t experienced their form of “cliche” in one form or another.

I am willing to make an educated guess that I’m not the only one who sometimes takes things for granted from an earthly perspective. We’re human.

Humans assume that whatever we take for granted will always be there. Then, one day, reality sets in, and what you never thought would be gone is. This can make you depressed.

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What Are The Five Basic Senses?

Easy enough question, right?

1. hearing
2. taste
3. eyesight
4. touch
5. smell

Let’s be honest: Who would think you would wake up tomorrow and lose one of your significant senses? It wouldn’t enter anyone’s mind daily because you always assume your senses will forever be.

I’d never assume in a million years, I’d be living with hearing loss to the point my day-to-day interactions would be affected. I just thought my hearing would always be there.

Boy, was I wrong?

You can check out the video at the end of this post to get all the details. It’s rather lengthy, but it explains ME. Don’t miss out. It is a massive part of how I approach life with a better, eternal perspective. This did not happen overnight—let’s say it’s a sanctification process.

What Are The Facts On Hearing Loss?

Since 2010, I have only 15% of hearing left in my left ear and 30% gone from my right. You can learn how I trust God through it all with my Autoimmune Disorders if you want to know more about my health journey.

Forget the Pity Party

I had a big pity party. Why Me? What have I done so wrong to deserve this? Trust me, I came up with any and every excuse you can think of. That is how I acted and played the blame game!

I’m so ashamed to share that particular comment, but I want to be completely honest because I did not place my faith where I should have. I wasn’t counting my blessings.

Most of all, I was viewing my circumstances from an earthly lens instead of how God could use me in this situation to serve His purpose for my life.

Look at the Blessings of what you have, Not what you don’t have

I could have NO hearing at all, but I do, and that’s something to be thankful for. For a long time, I thought God was punishing me. That was before I understood the importance of trusting God no matter my circumstances.

The only thing I saw was the loss associated with it. I want you to know that if such a situation happens to you, don’t make my mistake. You can trust God with any circumstance that comes your way.

God uses broken people to reach the broken

I’ve come to terms with the fact that God is using my hearing loss as a way of reaching out to others that I may not even be aware of.

God uses our trials and suffering to bring Him Glory, and that is why we are put on this earth in the first place. We can accept and use what we’re given in life for good.

Choose Better Over Bitter

We can choose to let our obstacles make us bitter or better. For far too long, living with hearing loss made me bitter; I’m not going to give you a half-truth.

Finally, I can tell you that I chose to be better. It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and many mistakes, and I know I will make many more.

5 Helpful Quotes on Living with an Eternal Perspective on Life

“Having an ‘eternal perspective’ helps us remember nothing is wasted.”

― Laura Thomas

“God delights in seeing you transformed and becoming more like Him.”

― Bobby Gene Redding

“Humility arises as you acknowledge and embrace your need for and your dependency on God.”

― Bobby Gene Redding

“God has the power to change you as well as any situation or circumstance you are in.”

― Bobby Gene Redding

“God’s plan for your future is better than any plan you could imagine or dream up.”

― Bobby Gene Redding

18 Hearing Loss tips for communicating with someone who has hearing loss

RESOURCE ARTICLE TIPS COURTESY OF UCSF

Successful communication requires the efforts of all people involved in a conversation. Even when the person with hearing loss utilizes hearing aids and active listening strategies, it is crucial that others involved in the communication process consistently use good communication strategies, including the following:

1. Face the deaf person directly, on the same level, and in good light whenever possible. Position yourself so that the light shines on the speaker’s face, not in the listener’s eyes.
2. Do not talk from another room. People often have difficulty understanding what is said because they cannot see each other when talking.
3. Speak clearly, slowly, distinctly, but naturally, without shouting or exaggerating mouth movements. Shouting distorts the sound of speech and may make speech reading more difficult.
4. Say the person’s name before beginning a conversation. This gives the listener a chance to focus attention and reduces the chance of missing words at the beginning of the conversation.
5. Avoid talking too rapidly or using complex sentences. Slow down, pause between sentences or phrases, and wait to ensure you have been understood before proceeding.
6. Keep your hands away from your face while talking. If you are eating, chewing, smoking, etc., while talking, your speech will be more challenging to understand. Beards and mustaches can also interfere with the ability of the hearing impaired to read speech.
7. If the hearing-impaired listener hears better in one ear than the other, try to remember which ear is better so that you will know where to position yourself.
8. Be aware of possible distortion of sounds for the hearing-impaired person. They may hear your voice but still may have difficulty understanding some words.
9. Most hearing-impaired people have more difficulty understanding speech when background noise exists. Try to minimize extraneous noise when talking.
10. Some people with hearing loss are susceptible to loud sounds. This reduced tolerance for loud sounds is not uncommon. Avoid situations where there will be loud sounds when possible.
11. If the hearing-impaired person has difficulty understanding a particular phrase or word, try to find a different way of saying the same thing rather than repeating the original words repeatedly.
12. Acquaint the listener with the general topic of the conversation. Avoid sudden changes in the topic. If the subject changes, tell the hearing-impaired person what you are talking about now. Repeat questions or critical facts in a group setting before continuing the discussion.
13. If you are giving specific information—such as time, place, or phone numbers—to someone who is hearing impaired, have them repeat the specifics back to you. Many numbers and words sound alike.
14. Provide pertinent information in writing, such as directions, schedules, work assignments, etc.
15. Recognize that everyone demanding hearing has a more challenging time hearing and understanding when ill or tired.
16. Pay attention to the listener. A puzzled look may indicate misunderstanding. Tactfully ask the hearing impaired person if they understood you, or ask leading questions so you know your message got across.
17. Take turns speaking and avoid interrupting other speakers.
18. Enroll in aural rehabilitation classes with your hearing-impaired spouse or friend.

Helpful Resources on Hearing Loss

Home Design for Hearing Loss: Tips for Creating a User-friendly Home

Customizing a Home for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Inhabitants

Moving Tips for People with Hearing Loss

Brutal Honesty on Coping with Autoimmune Diseases: Video Included

Since I recorded this video, I’ve had spinal issues and had to have surgery for it. It’s caused nerve damage that I was told on 8/11/22 will most likely never go away. This causes constant tripping/tingling in my left foot. Not fun!

The tingling is back on the right side of my neck, radiating down my arm into my fingers. This afternoon, I go for my first spinal block injection in my neck. These come in a series of three. Hopefully, they will help as they have before.

Recently, I fell when I tried to catch myself with my hands; it’s human nature, right? Needless to say, I have a brace on both arms and facing possible surgery. I see the hand/wrist surgeon on Monday.

The Special Meaning Behind the Name of My Website

If you caught the name of my website, it holds a special meaning concerning hearing loss. I may not be able to hear well, but you will still “Hear Me,” RESOUNDING HIS LOVE (God’s Love) for ME and YOU, too!

Related Reading on trusting God and how God can use your circumstances to HELP others through theirs.

• Trusting God through Trials
• God Wants to Use You
• How to Trust God When Bad Things Happen

Your Turn

What obstacles do you have in your life that you’re viewing from a “worldly perspective” instead of an “eternal perspective?”

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