Do people really still do New Years Resolutions? Everyone knows that they don’t really work or last very long.  A New Years Resolution without a plan and without the beliefs to back it up don’t really work.
This year instead of creating those new years resolutions that actually set you up to fail just by the fact that you are focusing on what is wrong most of the time like :Â I want to get out of debt -really says I hate being in debt so I want to get rid of it.
I want to lose 20 pounds says – I hate being overweight.
When you focus on what you don’t want you get more of the same. Focus on what you do want.
You want to have enough money to pay your bills, save for retirement and take vacations and that equals xx amount of dollars that you will need to make each month. There – that isn’t a resolution it is a concrete goal.
I want to be healthy, be fit and weigh my ideal weight of xx pounds by xx date.  Another goal.
But then how do you really achieve those things. Most of the trouble lies in the unconscious and conscious beliefs that we have about those things we want for ourselves. The unconscious is of course difficult to figure out because it is unconscious. Your feeling will be what tell you about what your unconscious thoughts are telling you. Whenever you are feeling anything but love or joy you are believing in an unconscious thought that just isn’t true. I know that is really hard to get your head around and apply. It is really an ongoing process of learning to tune into your feelings and honor them.
So maybe the new years resolution could be – pay more attention to my feelings! Make this year the year that you allow yourself to have desires and let it be OK.
It is OK to make $100,000 a year as a massage therapist. It is OK to take vacations and have a retirement fund. It is OK to have the clients that you need to be successful.
Make 2010 different by changing your thoughts! The rest will follow!
What I wish Massage therapists would get for Christmas… or well just get anytime…
- That being a massage therapist is one of the most rewarding careers where you do get to help people but you do also get to make a Great living.
- That giving to others begins with giving to yourself first in every way.
- That being a massage therapist does not mean you have to live in poverty or live without.
- That having desires is not a bad thing (Desires for a house, retirement fund, nice vacations and a full savings account along with relationships that nurture you are what make you human.)
- You are getting paid for your time and knowledge. You aren’t getting paid to care. That you give for free.
- It is OK to charge the fees that you need to make a great living and stay in business. Charging less than you need to make will lead to feeling resentful of clients and is also the biggest part of burnout. Just because massage is so wonderful doesn’t mean you have to give it away.
- That you can’t do it all alone. It is OK and even advisable to ask for help in the way of marketing, promoting yourself, getting your finances under control. Hire a bookkeeper, financial adviser, marketing adviser and a webdesigner who knows how to get you business. You can also find a mentor or supervisor or create your own peer supervision group to help you along the way.
- That even when you have a job in massage it is your job to get and keep clients coming in.
- You don’t have to take low paying jobs under $20 an hour. You can create or find higher paying jobs if you put the effort into it.
- That having a job doesn’t mean that you just get to do massage. You still can have a say in what is going on in the place where you work if you do it wisely and without complaining.
- You teach employers how to treat you so taking low paying jobs is teaching the employers that massage therapists don’t value their own work.
- That burnout can be avoided if you learn to take care of yourself first. That is financially as well as emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
- That being a successful massage therapist will probably be the hardest thing you will ever do.  It just isn’t about doing massage.
- Taking classes in ethics and participating in supervision will take your career farther than most technique classes.
- There isn’t any one technique that will make you a successful massage therapist.
- Because you are working closely with people it is important that you be doing your own self growth work.
- That you have to take responsibility for your career. You can blame your lack of clients on the economy or take responsibility and creatively figure out a way to keep your own economy stable. It isn’t easy and you won’t like to hear that, I know. Is it the economy or your not having a website that gets you new clients every week and makes you additional income or that you haven’t networked enough or done a mailing every week or gave presentations or the other millions of massage marketing ideas that you can do?
- Clients do not magically appear on your table. It takes believing in yourself and skill and taking action. Action is what prepares you to receive.
- It is your basic beliefs about yourself and success that are really are what get in your way of success. These are mostly unconscious beliefs. Most of our lives are run on unconscious behaviors and patterns. It is like driving a car- how often do you think what you are doing? If you don’t know what your beliefs are just take a look at what you have in your life and start asking – what would someone believe to have that in their life.
- Continuing education is a very important part of creating a successful business and promoting the profession. Plan and choose your classes accordingly. Don’t wait until the last minute when your license is up for renewal.
- Figure out what it is that you want for yourself and don’t stop until you get it. Focus on what you do want rather than what you don’t have.
- Get a massage once a week and better yet -pay for it. Go out and find a massage therapist that you can work with on a regular basis. You can learn so much about your own business just trying to find a good massage therapist that meets your needs and of course it will help you maintain your own health.
- Share your knowledge and experience with other massage therapists as often as you can.
That is my wish for you (all the massage therapists out there) this Holiday and MORE!
