In Ayurvedic philosophy, the Winter season is a time for contemplation and meditation. As Spring approaches with the end of Winter, the time is ideal for us to do the mental and emotional "work" of releasing old behavioral patterns and emotional traumas.
For my part, I have undertaken a no-holds-barred approach to personal growth. I am making good on the promise I made to myself during my Winter meditative retreat, when I realized that I needed to find a more harmonious work-life balance. I have committed to facing my fears and releasing them. This process has resulted in my inability to accept things that had formerly gone unquestioned in my life; things like going months without a day off, and the constant competitive drive of being a small business owner. This process is difficult but extremely freeing, and sometimes it can be very emotional.
I have not been posting on my blog as frequently as I was, largely because I am no longer willing to commit every free moment to work-related endeavors. I have clearly defined my office hours, I don't check emails after 6 pm, and I don't answer voicemails or texts after hours unless they are emergencies. All of these changes represent my desire for a more whole and balanced life. It is hard for a natural overachiever like myself to learn to say, "No," to any professional or educational opportunity. If there is a perceived "obligation" to do something, my tendency is to do whatever it takes to fulfill it. I have learned this year that many of the things we typically perceive as obligations are not truly deserving of the importance we assign to them. I am learning to say, "No," without guilt and with the recognition that I am giving myself a richer life because of it. Work is not all there is. If we allow it to be our focus, we will eventually find ourselves to be constantly striving for new achievements and lacking a deep contentment with our lives.
Health practitioners often fall into the trap of caring for everyone except for themselves. I am committed to not falling into that trap. I am determined to model the kind of life that I recommend to everyone who steps into my office. That life involves carving out sacred time for my family every week, sacred time for myself, time for cooking meals, and time for work.
It has become a behavioral standard in our culture to prioritize work above everything else. We have our career goals, then we fit in time with our family around those goals. We think least about our spiritual needs. We have become defined by our professional status. Often the first question we ask when meeting someone new is, "What do you do?"
As a culture, Americans have largely shifted priorities to the things that don't really matter. We have become a society of workaholics that eat fast food because we prioritize ambition and material wealth above all else. It is important for us to rethink these priorities. Such an imbalanced lifestyle cannot lead to mental and physical health. There is evidence of our declining health everywhere we look. More Americans are on digestive and mood stabilizing medications than people from any other culture.
We deserve whole and healthy foods. In order to eat well, we must plan time to shop for groceries, and time to cook fresh food every day. Likewise, we deserve love. Our families and friends deserve to see that they matter to us, and we need the love that comes from community and family. In order for us to feel that love, we need to plan time with those close to us.
I believe that everyone should do a life check-in at least every six months. This check-in is an evaluation of what is working and what isn't. It is a time to evaluate your level of happiness and take note of areas that need improvement. In Ayurveda, this check-in is part of the Fall and Spring cleansing programs. Any issues that you notice during your cleanse can be noted and prioritized. After cleansing, professionals are sought out as needed to help with the issues identified during the cleanse. A lot of emotional cleansing happens during the twice-yearly Ayurvedic detoxification process. Even so, deep issues such as emotional traumas from childhood often benefit from specialized assistance when we are ready to release them.
In my own life, it is important to me that my clinical practice of Ayurveda align with my vision of ethics. Ethics to me means that I practice what I recommend. Ethics also means that I need to make sure I take care of myself so that I can be the best possible practitioner for those who visit me. I am committed to fearlessly letting go of what doesn't work in my personal and professional life. I am moving forward with what does work, which is: being generous in my practice, focusing on individual education and empowerment in each session with my patients, working together instead of in competition with other health practitioners, and strictly maintaining sacred family and personal time to nurture my body and spirit.
I hope that all of you who read this will take time to evaluate your priorities and consider how well your current life structure is meeting your needs as a whole person. As you strive to create positive changes in your life, the process is challenging. It is not simply peaceful and easy to make changes that ultimately will result in a healthier mind/body/spirit. Even if the path is difficult, my own experience tells me that it will be worth it.
For my part, I have undertaken a no-holds-barred approach to personal growth. I am making good on the promise I made to myself during my Winter meditative retreat, when I realized that I needed to find a more harmonious work-life balance. I have committed to facing my fears and releasing them. This process has resulted in my inability to accept things that had formerly gone unquestioned in my life; things like going months without a day off, and the constant competitive drive of being a small business owner. This process is difficult but extremely freeing, and sometimes it can be very emotional.
I have not been posting on my blog as frequently as I was, largely because I am no longer willing to commit every free moment to work-related endeavors. I have clearly defined my office hours, I don't check emails after 6 pm, and I don't answer voicemails or texts after hours unless they are emergencies. All of these changes represent my desire for a more whole and balanced life. It is hard for a natural overachiever like myself to learn to say, "No," to any professional or educational opportunity. If there is a perceived "obligation" to do something, my tendency is to do whatever it takes to fulfill it. I have learned this year that many of the things we typically perceive as obligations are not truly deserving of the importance we assign to them. I am learning to say, "No," without guilt and with the recognition that I am giving myself a richer life because of it. Work is not all there is. If we allow it to be our focus, we will eventually find ourselves to be constantly striving for new achievements and lacking a deep contentment with our lives.
Health practitioners often fall into the trap of caring for everyone except for themselves. I am committed to not falling into that trap. I am determined to model the kind of life that I recommend to everyone who steps into my office. That life involves carving out sacred time for my family every week, sacred time for myself, time for cooking meals, and time for work.
It has become a behavioral standard in our culture to prioritize work above everything else. We have our career goals, then we fit in time with our family around those goals. We think least about our spiritual needs. We have become defined by our professional status. Often the first question we ask when meeting someone new is, "What do you do?"
As a culture, Americans have largely shifted priorities to the things that don't really matter. We have become a society of workaholics that eat fast food because we prioritize ambition and material wealth above all else. It is important for us to rethink these priorities. Such an imbalanced lifestyle cannot lead to mental and physical health. There is evidence of our declining health everywhere we look. More Americans are on digestive and mood stabilizing medications than people from any other culture.
We deserve whole and healthy foods. In order to eat well, we must plan time to shop for groceries, and time to cook fresh food every day. Likewise, we deserve love. Our families and friends deserve to see that they matter to us, and we need the love that comes from community and family. In order for us to feel that love, we need to plan time with those close to us.
I believe that everyone should do a life check-in at least every six months. This check-in is an evaluation of what is working and what isn't. It is a time to evaluate your level of happiness and take note of areas that need improvement. In Ayurveda, this check-in is part of the Fall and Spring cleansing programs. Any issues that you notice during your cleanse can be noted and prioritized. After cleansing, professionals are sought out as needed to help with the issues identified during the cleanse. A lot of emotional cleansing happens during the twice-yearly Ayurvedic detoxification process. Even so, deep issues such as emotional traumas from childhood often benefit from specialized assistance when we are ready to release them.
In my own life, it is important to me that my clinical practice of Ayurveda align with my vision of ethics. Ethics to me means that I practice what I recommend. Ethics also means that I need to make sure I take care of myself so that I can be the best possible practitioner for those who visit me. I am committed to fearlessly letting go of what doesn't work in my personal and professional life. I am moving forward with what does work, which is: being generous in my practice, focusing on individual education and empowerment in each session with my patients, working together instead of in competition with other health practitioners, and strictly maintaining sacred family and personal time to nurture my body and spirit.
I hope that all of you who read this will take time to evaluate your priorities and consider how well your current life structure is meeting your needs as a whole person. As you strive to create positive changes in your life, the process is challenging. It is not simply peaceful and easy to make changes that ultimately will result in a healthier mind/body/spirit. Even if the path is difficult, my own experience tells me that it will be worth it.