Do you know what your gifts are?

As a wellness practitioner (as a Massage therapist, Yoga teacher/trainer, Reiki practitioner, Shiatsu practitioner, Polarity therapist, Reflexologist, etc...), YOU are the product that you are selling. However, practitioners just starting out often hide behind their modality (or modalities) as if the technique(s) were the product they are selling. It's an easy thing to get confused about because you spend so much time during your training learning and practicing techniques. But the truth is that most clients are going to choose to see you vs someone else, not so much for your techniques, as for how comfortable, safe, and welcomed you make him or her feel and how much you help them emotionally as well as physically. You really are the aspect of your practice that makes a difference to your clients. And in order to really stand out to your clients, you need to know what your gifts are and who will benefit from them.

I've been in the wellness industry for the last decade, and I've seen a lot of companies come and go. I've learned first hand that the successful practitioners I know from yoga teachers to Reiki Masters to Massage therapists to Acupuncturists and Spiritual advisors have this one thing in common: authenticity. Those who book clients over and over again are consistently authentic in their client interactions and ways of conducting business. They are clear about the purpose of their practice, what they do best, what they can do for their clients and who they do it for. It’s true – being a successful practitioner boils down to one thing only. It doesn’t matter whether you are organized or sloppy, technologically saavy or not, working from home or associated with a center, maintain business systems or fly by the seat of your pants. A thriving, successful, practice that is full of clients whom you love to work with requires a much deeper understanding and knowledge – and a commitment that you stay true to yourself in every way.

What I've seen happen time and time again to practitioners when they begin their practice – and I am no exception - is that they focus on generalities in the benefits of their service and try to make their services accessible and pleasing to as many people as possible. Unfortunately this approach results in a struggle to book clients and develop long-term clientele relationships. Until you are clear on who you are, what you want to do, and who you want to do it with – the message you put out will be muddled. And it will be difficult for the people who will benefit most from your service to recognize themselves and the benefits available to them in your marketing. There are a lot of reasons why you might be unclear about your practice. Perhaps you’re just starting out, or maybe you simply haven’t taken the time to listen to your heart and inner guidance from your Core self. Perhaps there are fears holding you back, or you’re so focused on trying to grow the external aspects of your practice that you don’t have the time or know how to go within to listen to your Core self for advice.

I’ve learned and now teach that the real secret to attracting clients and having a thriving practice is really about your confidence, clarity and courage to just be YOU – in every way – and allowing yourself to operate, market and grow your business in this way. And in the next couple of weeks you'll be seeing some new programs from me to assist wellness practitioners like you in figuring out what your gifts are and who you're here to help so you can really shine and thrive in your practice.

How do you follow your bliss when life is hard?

It's pretty easy to follow your bliss and experience the flow of love, abundance, and peace when everything in your life is going well. During times like those, it seems like everything just falls into place magically - one opportunity and great experience after another. Some people seem to experience this flow of bliss more than others, and it's something we all wish we had more of in our lives.

And yet, sometimes life is difficult. Bad things happen to people who don't deserve it. People get laid off, have accidents, become injured, have illnesses and diseases, lose loved ones, lose money on the stock market, become depressed or debilitated. This stuff happens all the time, and it's not always something that can be prevented. And it's really hard to follow your bliss and be in the flow when difficult stuff is happening in your life. And yet, it's possible.

Mark Silver, author of Unveiling the Heart of Business, writes that what we consider being in the flow or following your bliss is really a connection and openness to experiencing one of the inherent Qualities of the the Source (Divine, God, or whatever you call it). These Qualities include peace, bliss, love, and abundance, and Mr. Silver teaches that while we don't always feel connected to these Qualities - they are always available to us when we return to the Source. He even suggests that the times when we don't feel these Qualities are when we are needy, and as humans, we are inherently needy. We need love and acceptance most of all, as these bring us into the Qualities of peace and abundance that let us feel like we're in that magical flow of opportunity and joy that we all wish for.

Mr. Silver recommends a practice from Sufism called Remembrance. It's when you take a few moments every day to invite yourself into the presence of the Source (Universe, Divine, etc..) and surrender your neediness. He recommends Remembering by chanting, but this can be done in any way that feels right to you - dancing, doing yoga, mindfulness meditation, walking in nature, swimming with dolphins, gardening, playing with a child - whatever it is that gets you out of your head and inside your heart, into your Spirit, that piece of you that connects with everyone else in the Universe (or Divine, depending on how you see it).

Mr. Silver suggests that by Remembering daily, or even more often when things are difficult, can create a profound transformation in your life (or in your business) as you start being able to stay in the flow and make decisions from a place that does not struggle, is not fearful, and has no doubts. Even if you don't have such lofty aspirations of wanting to be in the flow of bliss all the time or an interest in having a spiritual connection, this practice of being in the moment, surrendering your emotions, and letting your heart open can simply dissolve your stress, release tension in your body and bring you an overall sense of well-being.

What if you are already good enough?

In preparation for the creative retreat I attended last weekend, my mentor had all of the participants read The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist. Ms. Twist, a long time fundraiser and activist for The Hunger Project who has worked closely with some of the most resource rich and resource poor individuals and communities in the world, puts forth some revolutionary ideas about our capacity to experience abundance no matter where we are in the world and what our access to money is like. She actually challenges us to let go of the money myths that have become the foundations of our Western capitalist culture ("there isn't enough to go around so stockpile as much as you can for you and yours") and replace them with a liberating, and ancient, myth of abundance ("there is enough for all of us").

At this creative retreat, we explored how to weave the myth of abundance into our businesses, lifestyle and even spirituality. As we explored how to integrate our passions and businesses with our chosen lifestyle, we were actually exploring how the paradigm of enough could liberate, not just our relationship with money, but our relationship with ourselves, our families, our clients, and all the other people in our communities. A series of "what if" questions started popping into my mind as the possible ramifications of the myth of abundance began to sink into my consciousness.

What if individuals started to realize that they are good enough just as they are? What if communities began to see that there are enough resources for everyone if they work together? What if there is always enough love and support to nourish me and everyone else? What if none of us has to earn dignity, worth, value, love, abundance, opportunities, appreciation, gifts, income and anything else our hearts desire? What if we are all inherently good enough to receive these things? What if it's just a matter of being open to revealing this abundance inside of ourselves and our communities?

Though my mentor has been trying to teach me this for a while, it wasn't until I came home from the retreat did I start to really understand how my entire life and my business could be different if I approached it from this lens of abundance.

What if you are already good enough? How would that change your life and work? What if your gifts are enough? What if following your bliss is enough?