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Changes-Taking Dreams to Belief
Many people have contacted me over the years to ask how they might use their knowledge of or interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into a new career path. Often people have collected some knowledge over the years, or they feel a real draw to helping others and want to learn more. Sometimes it's quite simply an inner yearning that moves them. But they don't know where to begin.
Unfortunately, for some the information required to start making a change in their career path is too confusing. There is so much information available on-line and so many ideas and opinions, so many different viewpoints and passions, people often get confused and don't do anything. A kind of paralysis sets in and although they dream of making changes they don't actually believe they can make the change happen.
The same applies to any kind of career change. Everything starts as a dream. All inventions started as dream. Every new idea or concept, everything we take for granted as part of our daily lives started as a dream. Did you ever think about that? So, how does that apply to you? We started by talking about careers, well this is the School of Complementary Therapies and that's our business, training people to have successful careers in CAM. But it's not just careers or career changes that begin with a dream. Everything begins with a dream.
Take a moment now to think about something that you would like to do: whether it is something as big as a career change, or as small as losing a few pounds. Picture what your life would be like if you made that change. My good friend Patricia Wall told me that as soon as you mention the word "change" to people, there is a part of them that goes into absolute fear and terror. We don't like change as it feels unsafe, yet it's the only thing we are guaranteed in life! Nothing stays the same, everything changes. How about taking charge of that, and deciding that you will make the changes and not just ride with them. How does that sound? Or more importantly, how does that feel?
Begin visualizing:
· Imagine what it would be like to achieve more of what you truly want.
· Imagine what it would be like to balance the different areas of your life.
· Imagine what your life would be like if you had higher self-confidence and self-worth.
· Imagine what it would be like to enjoy better health.
· Imagine what it would be like to have more energy.
· Imagine what it would be like to achieve your goals.
If you can do any of the above, you can begin to change your life to one that will be more fulfilling and happier. You can take charge of your life. Begin by dreaming. But the next step is to put the dreams into action. How often have you heard someone talk about how they'd spend their lottery winnings? They will get a far away look; dreaming and they might even have quite a detailed list of what they would do with a lot of money. However, ask them if they buy lottery tickets, and you might be quite surprised to find out that the dreaming isn't connected to any form of action.
Result Imagery creates mental pictures of the goal or result as if it has already occurred. For example, if you are giving a talk to colleagues, you might imagine yourself confidently delivering the speech, hear the applause and imagine the positive outcome of your successful presentation. A 1967 study by stress researcher Edmund Jacobson found that visualizing an activity produces small but measurable reactions in the muscles involved in the imagined activity. Repeated mental rehearsal implants the learned memory of a successful action, and also conditions the unconscious mind with the outcome you expect to achieve. The clinical evidence has been used by the sporting world for years.
Don't worry about the details of how they got there, or how you got there--just see the success. Then feel it! If you can't "feel it", then play with the visualization until you can. For example, if you try to picture a full-time career in CAM and it seems too far a stretch, make the dream smaller: begin by picturing working with clients in the evening a couple of nights a week. See how it feels. Or if the issue is weight loss and you have 50lbs to lose, try imagining what it would be like to be one size smaller: make it something you can believe.
The next step is to do something. It's not enough to dream, you have to take some kind of action. This is the step that frightens people the most; getting started. If you wish to have a career in CAM, take a course. Take any course. Don't worry about getting the right one or waiting until you have time or the kids have finished school, or any other thing that stops you from doing what you want to do. Take a step today. Make a commitment to yourself and your own well-being. Sign-up for a course, begin an exercise program, get professional help to make changes -just do it! And you begin the journey to leading the life you want to live.
I am available by telephone or email appointment to help you work with your specific dream. As a Life Facilitator specializing in Hypnotherapy I can help you take the first steps, whatever the change you wish to make. Emma is available to help you get started in the classroom with a teacher or by taking one of our top-of-the-line correspondence courses.
Please note that I'll be in Ottawa from November 12th until the 25th and am taking appointments in person. Space is limited, so reserve your time with me now by email or phone.
Enjoy the last of the cool autumn days and next month we'll look at some fun stuff to do over the Winter holiday season to bring some warmth and laughter into life.
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Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to schoolofct.com or www.jacquelinefairbrass.com, call 613.232.4224 or contact us on-line.