If you believe that working really hard on building your private practice will make you successful and also believe that being successful will then make you really happy, then you may be attempting to build your practice on shaky scaffolding. Check out Shaun Achor’s video on TED Talks below.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M[/youtube]
You’ve heard it before . . . “The absence of dis-ease is not health” and it’s as true in your private practice as it is in your own physical health. If you are ready to try a new strategy for your happiness and success in business, consider a different type of scaffolding by applying some of what we know about “The Happiness Advantage” . . . .
- Write three new things each day that you are grateful for. (And, no . . . just thinking about them doesn’t work.) The new research on neurophysiology supports that this combination of mental and physical activity literally restructures your brain’s ability to experience and seek out positive experiences.
- Journal daily about one positive thing that has happened to you – better yet make it something that is related to you growing your business. The process of requiring your brain to relive positive experiences actually conditions your brain to expect and find positive experiences more easily.
- Exercise daily. Think of it as cognitive restructuring or, as Shaun says, you are “teaching your brain that exercise matters” and activity is key to building a resilient private practice
- Meditate daily to help you focus better on your practice-building tasks.
- Write one email daily to thank someone in your social / support network. Even better if it’s someone you believe can / will / is helping you to build your practice. (Actually, I’m thinking there are lots of reasons to do this – even if it didn’t contribute to actively building your practice.)
You may believe that building a strong and vibrant private practice is really difficult to do. I used to think that, too. However, once I figured out the keys, I learned that it was only as difficult as I made it.
Try one of these strategies for at least two minutes each day for 21 consecutive days and then . . . drop back in here to let us know what has changed for you. (And, if you can’t commit to two minutes / day to improve your private practice, . . . you may want to take a look at that instead. Building a strong private practice does not have to be hard . . . but it does require focus and commitment to your dreams.)
Thank you for posting this video! He is such a phenomenal speaker and he definitely provokes thought about different approaches to private practice.
Hi, Traci! Welcome back!
I know! This was the first time that I’ve heard of him. I really like that he offers current research to back up his nudges. I will read the research and certainly rely on the research but I don’t excel at remembering the exact stats or the specifics of the studies. I just retain the broad scope and practical applications. His presentation, though, reminds me of how much more credibility you can gain from hanging on to those details.
Hey, I just realized that you are another one in our online community here that doesn’t have your smiling face attached to your comments. Here’s the link to an earlier guest post by Beth Hayden where she tells you how to set this up. It’s really easy . . . and with your great smile you are missing an opportunity to help others feel connected to and familiar with you. Go get your gravatar!
Hi, Tamara!
I am always happily surprised when prayers get answered dramatically and faster than my imagination can run! Waking up tired from a hectic day day yesterday in the office following a long holiday trip with my fabulous husband and grandchildren… I was drained. This post with Shaun’s post was just what I needed. They fully verbalize one of my frequent “prescriptions” for my clients: “FUN!” to regain and restore. Breathe, recognize and store up treasured moments.
Thanks,
Mary
Hi, Mary! You, too, have been away too long. I’ve missed your voice here!
I know exactly what you mean about resurrecting fun. It’s easy to get focused on the doom and gloom that our clients often bring and completely forget that our job is to help them restore some semblance of balance . . . which, of course, always includes FUN!
I’m so glad that Private Practice from the Inside Out can be part of your own recovery today!
By the way – I just mentioned this to Traci above – if you have a couple of minutes, you really should add your smiling face (in the form of a gravatar) to your comments. It really does help folks get comfortable with you. And, that, in turn, may result in higher referrals and networking online:). Think about it!
I loved this video! Thank you for sharing- I really need to implement some of the suggestions. “The absence of dis-ease is not health”- this spoke volumes to me!
How have you been, by the way?
Hi, Carla! I guess it’s just been a busy month for a lot of us because I haven’t found your voice here in a while either! I’m gearing up to teach 2 full days of ASIST (suicide intervention training). After that, I really will be back on a more even keel!
I loved Shaun’s reminder about dis-ease not being health – and isn’t that exactly what the medicating of our clients is pushing us toward?! Oh, OK, my soapbox – warning, warning! I won’t go there this afternoon as I have more clients to see. However, rather than implementing some of those suggestions of his . . . I’m opting to commit to just one. (I find that for me, if I commit to more than one at a time, I blow it. So just one for now!) I hope you’ll drop back in and let us know how your implementation fares!
Have a great day, Carla!
Awesome point… one suggestion at a time!
Yes it has been very busy for me! And for a while it was very overwhelming. Business is growing, family and community commitments, and I am trying to finish dissertation (which always ends up on the back burner). I am trying to strike the right balance.. through trial and error, but a valiant effort none the less!
Hope to chat soon!
Carla
Carla, baby steps forward DO COUNT as steps forward! Best wishes on your journey!
That is so funny! A friend of mine said something similar to me this week. I guess that is confirmation that I should appreciate the baby steps!!
Thanks Tamara for the great reminder!
Excellent, Carla – and I’m a firm believer that if something keeps resurfacing, it’s time to pay attention!
I am noticing your smiling face in this gravatar and hoping that others are going to take your lead and put up those tiny pictures that show up next to your comments!
Come on, folks! It’s time! Put up your tiny little pictures! We want to see your smiling faces!
i will try that, Ive been down in the dumps lately and I need to refocus and be grateful for what I do have vs. looking at what Im missing.
Shannon! Welcome to Private Practice from the Inside Out! So sorry that you have been down in the dumps and so glad that Shaun’s video is helping you to refocus! I was listening to Oprah while ago on the radio. She quoted (I think) Reverend T.D. Jakes as saying “Your passion will lead you to your purpose.” I love that because I know that gratitude can lead us to passion and it makes sense to me that our passion would be tied to our purpose.
All of that is to say that I’m hoping that you are focusing on your gratitude, riding on your passion, and landing right in the middle of your purpose today, Shannon. This is a terrific online community to stay connected with so I hope you’ll drop back in often to read, and learn, and share what you know. I am happy to support you on your journey!
Thank you for posting Shawn’s video. I loved it and am so excited to share it with some of my clients. Great stuff!