Practice for my new tools

Recently, my mother was teaching an art therapy segment in our Advanced Intuitive Development class (A.I.D.), and she said something that got me thinking. Several of the 7 students in this class mentioned major life challenges. 'Isn't this how it always is?', I thought to myself. When people just begin to experience spirituality, or develop new insights, or seem to be on track, the poop hits the fan. Why is that? Just when we think we are in control, the universe seems to remind us that we aren't. I think this is why some people become pessimistic. I think that they fail to miss something really important, and decide that what goes up, must come down. So why wish for better things when you will have it, and then it will either be taken away from you, or you will be disappointed. When we reach a new level, as my mother put it, 'we experience opportunities to practice our new tools'. Isn't that the truth!

So, this week I tried that perspective. I had a hard week. Actually, since I've taken Co-directorship at West Grove Clinic, LLC, it seems like I've had a lot of hard weeks. Little did I know the corporate world I was throwing myself into. How EASY my world was before massaging people, and talking with them about their lives, one on one. People were always vulnerable to me, and open. My job was to relax them, and nurture them. I was an expert at creating a safe environment.

My new job has involved being with people when I am interviewing them, trying to see their souls under their nervousness. I've never known competition, ego, and games in the work place. Never. This is all new to me. To witness what I've seen and been in the middle of, at 35 years old, as though I am a teenager at her first job, has been rather jarring. Has it changed me? Yes. Has is jaded me? No. It's just forced me to develop and practice several new skills. What worked in the past, with massage clients just has not always worked in the corporate world. Some or it has been useful. But mostly, it's been a balancing act of sincerity, integrity, compassion, and respect. With power comes great responsibility. I've heard this before, but I didn't understand it until recently. I don't think it CAN be understood with out experiencing it. THANK GOD I have a partner, and additional emotional support. I tell myself this several times a day, 'I am well supported'. (.I know it sounds funny)

But all of these 'practice' sessions.. there seem to be so many. It seems like the more practice sessions I have, the more tools I learn, and then more 'practice sessions' appear. I know that when you are moving really fast, and you hit a bump, you are likely to fall really hard. Yes, this is true. I can confirm that!

I can tell you that after over a year of plowing forward, no matter what, I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It's not that I can see it, as much as feel it. I know that it is coming. Every day, I count at least 1 mini-miracle. As though Spirit is showing me signs that I'm 'almost there'. Almost to the next check point.

Before this year I never worried about my health, my blood pressure, my hair ever turning gray (no, it hasn't yet!). But now I understand. I understand so much about the corporate world. I will tell these things to people and they will just smile at me and nod. I wonder why I never heard about these things, in such detail before? Maybe I did, but it was like listening to someone speak Spanish. I took a few years in school, but I hardly speak the language. Perhaps I only heard what I could relate to or understand. I'm still not fluent in the corporate world. I'm not sure if I want to be!

At the end of each day, I look in the mirror, and I know that I like myself. I am proud of myself for sticking to my guns, and maintaining my integrity to the best of my ability. And that's important. Because it's not when I get to the top of the mountain; it's how. And although taking shortcuts is tempting, especially when I'm tired and exhausted; it's not part of my commitment to myself on how I achieve success. I keep viewing this as a journey vs. a destination. And I'm proud of myself for repeatedly taking the high road when temptation and power could have lead me otherwise.

Each challenge is only an opportunity to refine my business. This clarifies my vision for West Grove Clinic, LLC.