Massage & Bodywork

MAY | JUNE 2019

Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1102144

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 55 of 118

Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 53 • Feel uncomfortable accepting money for your massage services or resistant to increasing your rate. Annie LaCroix, massage school owner and host of the Brainy Boss podcast (www.brainyboss.co), notes that markers of impostor syndrome are often seen in students. Students might: • Avoid talking in class because everyone else seems smarter. • Not ask questions of clients because they "should" know. • Not practice newly learned techniques because someone else in the class "does it better." At the same time, impostor syndrome isn't all bad. Blaisdell points out, "It can keep us humble, keep us fact-checking the work we're putting out there. It adds up to extra due diligence." Some of the same traits of impostor syndrome are motivators to keep improving as practitioners and having the self-awareness to stay in our scope of practice. Self-awareness is contextual and flexible and helps you accomplish your goals. Impostor syndrome is pervasive and repetitive and holds you back. A successful balance of humility and confidence doesn't come easy, but it is worth the effort. If you see traits of impostor syndrome in yourself, fear not. There are plenty of simple techniques to conquer these feelings of inadequacy that may be holding you back. Change your language. If you tend to brush off compliments and pass along credit to others, reframe those responses. For example, "Oh, it's not a big deal" could be "Thank you, I worked hard on that and it feels wonderful to be recognized." If you and Betty create a self-care event and get rave reviews, resist the urge to push the credit to someone else. Instead of "Oh, Betty did the hard work," try saying "Thank you, it was great to Start a project Overprepare Hide, ignore, procrastinate It , s over! Ignore any positive feedbac k Feeling like a fake, depression, anxiety Anxiety, self-doubt, worry collaborate with Betty, and I know we're both pleased with the final product." You can take credit for your work, truly own your accomplishments, and still remain humble. The balance is a wonderful place to inhabit. Keep track of client successes. When you get great results treating a client, make note of it. Of course, you'll keep the client's notes in their chart. But you could also put a little star in your calendar or a sticky note with a happy face inside a closet door. Keep doing that and soon you'll have a fun visual reminder of your success. Have a document handy where you can record client reviews and verbal feedback. When a client leaves a good review online, copy and paste it into your document. Do the same when a client emails you with positive thoughts and when a client tells you in person that they're feeling great. When you feel low, review this document.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Massage & Bodywork - MAY | JUNE 2019