I got a cup of coffee at a Starbucks this morning. From time to time I “go off” coffee, and after a couple of months I often take up the habit again. Now, is one of those times.
It’s expensive to buy professionally brewed coffee. At least I think it is. Many people spend a hundred bucks or more a month on their caffeine fix. These are the same folks who claim they can’t afford chiropractic care!
But it boils down to priorities, doesn’t it? People have a feeling about their coffee (physically or emotionally) that is more compelling than how they feel before, during or after their chiropractic care. Which got me thinking about the 25 years I’ve been receiving my chiropractic care. What do I get out of it? How does it make me feel? Why do I keep doing it?
My guess is that people who adopt chiropractic as a lifestyle have the ability to detect subtle changes in their bodies. When your ability to notice nuances in your body are heightened, you’re not only more appreciative of the ease and sense of connectedness that follows an adjustment, but you’re more aware of, and less tolerant of, the signs your body produces that signals that an adjustment is needed. Thus, if you want more chiropractic “regulars” in your practice, perhaps the key is to attract people who have a better than average ability to listen to their body.
These are probably people who regularly “use” their body. If you unknowingly see your body as merely a package that services and transports your brain from place to place, it’s easy to become disconnected. But if you’re a dancer, athlete or active in any one of dozens of other pursuits that require you to consciously use your body, you’re more likely to have better body listening skills.
Test this theory for yourself. Ask new patients at your consultation, “What are the signs your body sends you when you’re about to catch a cold?” Those who mention a slight discomfort when swallowing are far more likely to be candidates for long term chiropractic care than those who mention the more advanced symptoms of a stuffy head and runny nose. The latter suggests a separation from the body; the former a sense of “connectedness” more likely to suggest an interest in chiropractic as a lifestyle.