I re-joined Toastmasters International about a month back and had to do what is termed an 'Ice-breaker' speech. In the past this hasn't been my strong point, talking about myself, I prefer to ask questions and then listen to others talk about themselves, probably why for years I thought about becoming a Psychiatrist.
So when my mentor Mandy Lee with Caduceus Inclined Life Philosophy challenged me to start the New Year off with a bit of a self-inquiry, it seemed like a both interesting, and challenging undertaking, but here goes. I will employ as much brevity as possible, and focus more along the line with how the dots lined up for me, to bring me to this exciting point in my life as a Kinesiologist, Healer, Teacher/Instructor, Counselor, Entrepreneur, and dare I say, Author.
In my younger years I worked as a Lifeguard, rescuing drowning individuals, teaching individuals young and old to swim, along with instructing Aquafit exercise programs. For about 8 years I essentially spent thousands of hours watching people. Meanwhile I was attending College & University, studying primarily business, and in my free-time, reading, learning, traveling and studying a broad-range of topics I was interested in as well.
In one of my marketing classes we did some individual analysis assessments and it turned out that mine scored as Experiencer 1st - Innovator - 2nd. I performed the test on family and friends noting their scores as well. Looking back at the experiences I have had, and the lands I have traveled to the Experiencer definitely lived up to its title.
Meanwhile, in my head I would spend hours upon hours thinking and contemplating varying ideas - you have a lot of time to 'think' when you are a watcher of people. Throughout this period I delved deeply into the martial arts, leaning towards more of the 'esoteric' ones. Around this time I also participated in a personal development program called 'Choices', returning several times to Coach others through the process.
Funny how one can get re-routed, marriage, children, changing careers - things shift, yet I always continued reading, learning, listening to audio books, self-educating myself. Sometimes one does things because ones assumes or feels, that is what is 'expected' of one to do. I don't regret my time spent working in the Oil Industry for example, as it A) allowed me to obtain a trade on top of my degree, and B) allowed me to relate well to those individuals I taught and counselled for 7 years working as a Program Co-ordinator & Manager and as a Safety Training Instructor. I also was able to build a solid network with a wide-range of business owners and managers throughout Medicine Hat and Southern Alberta, and even spent a couple years in the role of a Director on the Board for the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce.
Yet life isn't always roses, separation, divorce, loss of loved ones, conflicts at work, these things happen, and occasionally 'signs are present' but when we are looking through a keyhole...
So I began to work on the only 'one' I could, myself. Building myself up - Physically, Emotionally, Mentally, Spiritually. Working out, health and fitness, diet, yoga, meditation, self-help, I was like a sponge taking everything in. Life would get better, and then things would always shift, move sideways so to speak. I would be able to control parts, but not all.
The discovery of NLP and Dr. Richard Bandler was a huge shift forward, as was taking the 'Art of Assisting' course through the Baptiste Institute. I didn't realize it yet, but the reason for the shift was in the change in the 'doing'.
Finally, with the re-discovery of Kinesiology (I was first exposed to muscle testing in 2002) all the dots aligned in a rather serendipitous fashion. My teacher and mentor Mandy Lee Metz gave me one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given, exposure to my talent, exposure to my value. Mandy stands about 5'2, but when you hear here speak, you would assume she is much taller. Through her coaching and instruction she showed me how to begin to 'help' others, and how to no longer 'rescue'.
Although Redcliff Kinesiology has yet to complete its first year of business, I already have witnessed many changes and improvements in several of the clients I have treated and counselled. Some may call these 'miracles', some may credit the results as being 'unbelievable' or say that I healed them. The reality is that the process is never mine alone, I have helped them heal - TRUE, but without involvement from the client, healing never lasts. Some clients I see recognize this, and become scared... run or quit. Some may return, some may not... recognizing that my job is simply to plant the seed is enough. Others that embrace the truth and recognize the work required on their end, they will live a life that others may claim as 'miraculous' and even 'magical'. The truth I have learned is; The Art is in the Doing & the Being - and I am honored to be of service to each and every client and student I see.
My biggest 'Ah-ha' was, that for years I kept the information I had inside, wasn't being shared with anyone, I was in fact living 'small', living according to the expectations of some of those around me. Recognizing and realizing that 'I know already' and now I need 'to do' was pivotal. Being of service to others allows me to share and provide my skill and my value with them. It opens them up to a point where they can recognize their 'value' as well.
Moving forward into 2018 I will continue to practice the specialized form of Practical Kinesiology that I perform, along with incorporating other modalities when beneficial for another. Zig Ziglar states - 'You can get everything in life you want, if you help enough other people get what they want'. My business Redcliff Kinesiology allows me the opportunity to be a being of service, to do the work through 'practice', and to live up to my life contract - 'I am a strong, confident man who loves himself, empowering others in their lives.'