"I'm just supposed to be positive, happy, excited and "act" the part of a busy, successful chiropractor and things will come around? I'm not finding it easy to be positive. Do you have any suggestions on how to do that?"

My Response:

Sounds like medicine, trying to change a patient’s symptoms from outside-in! Here are some suggestions to help you assume a more resourceful state.

1. Become reacquainted with your purpose. It’s the inexperienced actor who, after a couple of takes, distracted by the bright lights and chaos of a movie set, will ask the director, “What’s my motivation, again?” Which is another way of asking, “Who am I supposed to be in this scene.” The actor is asking the director (who is ultimately responsible for such things) what persona they are supposed to be portraying.

God is your director. Not patients, your spouse, your debt or an unapproving parent or stingy insurance company.

Your mission is to uncover what your purpose, your reason for being, is. I’m certain that it’s not to limp along, barely surviving! Set your heart on identifying your purpose, and bring clarity to it through language. (You may find my one-hour mini-seminar Being On Purpose program helpful.)

2. Model someone who has what you desire. It’s difficult to act the part if you’ve never seen it. Find a practitioner who is doing and experiencing practice the way you want to experience it. Don’t get distracted by the superficial procedures and scripts (symptoms) but spend time uncovering the underlying beliefs, values and worldview of the chiropractor. What do they believe about chiropractic, the adjustment, patients, staff relationships, purpose, health, etc. that result in the way they run their practice? Spend time watching, listening, asking and being filled.

Your circumstances are merely the result of your beliefs. If you believe something that isn’t true, you’ll tend to act and behave in ways that attempt to perpetuate the lie. You must come to grips with what you believe. And then, come to learn and believe the truth, which we all know, will set us… free.

3. Discontinue all distractions and addictions. This is especially difficult now, but try to avoid all media, especially television, sugar, alcohol, pornography or any other distraction you use to find comfort and amuse yourself so you don’t have to face reality. These behaviors tend to separate you from others and fuel your private pity party. This is a time for restoration, physical exercise, house cleaning (literal and figurative) and bringing organization and simplicity to your life. You are now on a spiritual quest and must be able to see what is, unencumbered by the mass hypnotism of the media, the sugar high or the alcohol fog. Prepare yourself to receive.

4. Go through not around. Part of your entrapment is that you have likely created circumstances in which you simply tolerate, going around, avoiding or choosing not to look at. My guess is that there is some part of your life that you are afraid to see or others are shielding you from. Maybe it’s a staff member who siphons off your energy and the energy of patients. Perhaps it’s a spouse with a spending problem or an addiction you’re unwilling to confront. Or some co-dependency, fear, unresolved situation or difficult conversation you’ve chosen not to face or confront. It’s essential that you go through it now and end the avoidance strategies. It may be uncomfortable, probably painful. But it’s part of the bondage you feel.

The “fake-it-till-you-make-it” strategy is mechanistic, difficult to sustain and ultimately unhelpful. Your heart and mind must experience renewal to be the influential healer I’m assuming you desire to be. The evil one, who apparently feels threatened by your potential, is likely waging the oppression you’re experiencing. To be worthy of such attention is proof of your hidden power!

Hope that helps.

Bill