Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/918051
A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 27 With this plan, I was able to create a thriving massage practice with people eager to work with me. Once my massage practice was flowing smoothly, I was able to make other simple plans to move myself into other places I wanted to go, like writing a book, incorporating other massage therapists into my practice, and becoming a coach and yoga teacher. Breaking long, complex projects into simple, short-term plans is the method of planning that works for me. If I get too far ahead of myself, I feel overwhelmed and can stop myself before I even get started. If I have a big project I want to tackle, I usually spend some time thinking about it as a whole, and then figure out what the first step entails and make a plan to complete that step. One downside of this method of planning is not finishing things. This method works if I can recognize when I have completed a section of my plan and it is time to move on. For instance, for a long time I had a certain number in my head for how much money I wanted to save. This number seemed big to me at the time, but in the last year or so I have steadily maintained that amount in my savings. Having achieved that part of my plan, I recently realized it is now time to figure out what the next part of my plan is. This means getting clear on my values and where I would like to be next. THE BIG PICTURE Maybe you will find that your method of planning is different than mine. The important thing about having a plan is that it gives you a place to start and a way to measure your progress. Often at the beginning of a project, we can look at the big picture and see where we are trying to go. As we proceed into the muck of the process, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. A plan of any kind will remind us in those moments of the bigger idea and guide us to the next small steps. Perhaps the most difficult part of making a plan is knowing where you want to go. When you are on a Mindful Money journey, you understand that life is not defined by dollar signs but by how we feel. Once we have identified what we truly value, making a plan that works for us is the wisest thing we can do to get there. Jennie Hastings, LMT, BCTMB, has studied money in the therapeutic process from every angle: as a client, patient, and practitioner. She is the author of The Inspired Massage Therapist (Massage Blossom Books, 2012). Hastings believes having a career in massage and bodywork means having infinite possibilities, and she is always exploring new ways to evolve her practice. You can find more from her at www.jenniehastingsyoga.com. Perhaps the most difficult part of making a plan is knowing where you want to go.