Let's face it; life isn't always a bowl of cherries when you own your own practice. Or. should I say, it owns you? There can be very distressing times. "These, too, shall pass." Ask any Doc who has been practicing for any length of time. So the question is...what do you do when life gets challenging'.' I live in Florida, and for half the year. it"s hurricane season here. There are many programs, public service announcements and reminders encouraging folks to have emergency kits. Your emergency kit must be complete and right on-hand to make the difference, perhaps between life and death. Having a plan the whole family is aware of and can implement when seconds count is crucial. The truth is, even if you don't live in Florida, your practice may have a "hurricane season" of its own. Be prepared. I've compiled a list of things to include in your emergency kit. The need will arise, life happens: be prepared. At least, hurricane season has the common courtesy to arrive and depart on a fairly regular schedule. The emotional tides of running a practice are not always as predictable. Additionally. I've included a few tools that will make your life more fulfilling when you are "off-season." This is not an exhaustive list: it'll hit the highlights. And, according to several clients I have shared this with, it'll hit a few buttons, as well. Turn off the TV and/or com puter—This is a big challenge for almost everyone. It is also a great "diagnostic tool." When minutes, hours, days and weekends become a blur of "electronic valium". it's time for an intervention! Eliminate, or drastically decrease, your use of sugar and caffeine Exercise regularly— Do what you want that keeps your body in motion for 20-45 minutes daily, preferably, three times a week, minimum. Use affirmations— Yes. I want you to do a "Stuart Smalley" imita tion. How many times a day do you hear that small voice in the back of your head—you know the one: "That patient is going to cancel;" "They're going to tell me they can't pay their bill;" "I know I didn't get a good correction with that adjustment;" "I'm not smart enough;" "That lawyer won't send me any patients;" "I won't be able to pay the rent on time next month." and on. and on, and on. What you may not realize is that you are an expert at affirmation. I want you to keep up the good work—just change the subject and your perspective on what you are affirming. Change from affirming the negative outcomes to affirming the positive outcomes in life. Choose an affirmation. State it out loud, pretend you are an actor. and experience the positive feelings of how it feels to "be" your affirmation. The first time you do this, what happens? Listen, and you'll hear. "Yeah, right!" So what do you do in the face of your internal critic? Outlast him! You need to state your affirmation again, "be" your affirmation, again. And. then, listen for that small voice, again. It will take a repetition of approximately 20-25 times in a row of each affirmation to begin to "change your thinking." When you are ready to take it to the next level, look in the mirror and go through the entire process, while watching yourself. Look directly into your own eyes. This can be a very powerful exercise that can change your life. Get to bed at night, and get up in the morning at the same time each day. According to Dr. Dement, author of The Promise of Sleep, we all need approximately 8 hours of sleep, and we can maxi mize our efficiency if we are con sistent about the timing. Create a Victory Book—A Victory Book is a special journal, a place to log a minimum of 3 positive things that have happened during your day: chiropractic mir acles, personal triumphs, and goals achieved. This tool can help in several ways. It keeps you looking for the positive, the mira cles that happen in your life. It is human nature to be forgetful, and my experience has been that we forget the "good stuff" long before we let go of the "bad stuff" that happens in our lives. There are times when the challenges of the day seem to get the better of us. At those times, when you need a ""boost." and your team members are not available, use your Victory book to remind you of the positive wonders of life. Journal—"Know thyself." The more you understand what you are really thinking, the more you are able to change your behavior, and change your life. When beginning a journal, I request of my clients a daily com mitment to a minimum of 90 days, and a minimum of 20 minutes per day. Set a timer; write what comes to mind. See what you are actually thinking, and see what you can learn from yourself. This is not for sharing with anyone else; it is for you. alone. If you are inspired, continue to write after the timer goes off. There is no maximum time, when it comes to journaling. Pray/Meditate—Have quiet time. Pray, meditate, think, and be. I believe this must be done on a daily basis, three times a week would be nice and. I believe, inad equate. There is a much smaller minimum commitment for this: you can get away with 5 minutes daily, minimum. Create a gratitude list—Grati tude is the key to peace. When in need of support and grounding, count your blessings. Have a Plan—This is so cru cial to an even keel, regardless of the weather surrounding you. This is something that must be done on a daily basis, and updated momentarily, if need be. This is where rigidity, flexibility, and ingenuity come to a crossroads. If a strategy is not in place by which to run the day. the day creates your strategy... which is no strategy' Get a Coach—Accountability is the key. here. If you have a great attitude, a miraculous vision, and an awesome plan, yet you stumble at the implementation phase—none of it matters. We all need a person who will tell us the truth, have a different perspective, be the touchstone when needed, and/or the kick in the pants when that is needed, as well. Play!—Enjoy every moment of life! That's what we are really here for! Of course you can "take what you like and leave the rest,'" as the saying goes. I only request that you look deeply at the items that you "absolutely won't do." the one's that give you a queasy feeling, when you read them. These items will bring you the fastest and most powerful breakthroughs in your career and. most importantly, breakthroughs in your life! They are also the most difficult to tackle alone. That's why, as stated above. I strongly suggest you get a coach. You need someone on your team to remind you of what's important, when you've forgotten. Every professional athlete lias a coach. They do that for a reason. Accountability is crucial to success. Having a coach keeps you accountable to your dream, your vision, your mission and your goals. Here's to enjoying the fresh invigorating and grateful feeling...after the storm! Dr. Dianne M. Baynes is a chiropractor in practice in Pensacola, Florida. She is also a registered nurse, and practiced for 10 years in nursing, before opening her chiropractic practice. Dr. Baynes is a 1986 Graduate of Life University, Marietta, Georgia, where she graduated Swnnta cum Laude as Class Salutatohan. Dr. Baynes is a Senior Coach for Breakthrough Coaching and can be contacted at wwu.my breakthrough.com, or bx telephone at 1 -800- 723-8423.0
