"I Have To Give A Massage"

I'm going to suggest a strategy that has to do with six of the most common words in the English language: "I have to go to work." Or, let's modify this to our professional massage therapy practice, "I have to give a massage."

Before I continue, let me assure you that I'm aware that in all probability, it's absolutely true that you do "have to" go to work and give a massage. Nevertheless, these particular words carry with them some really negative baggage that, I believe, is self-destructive.

Other than you thoughts, your words are your primary entry point into your experience. They paint a picture of your expectation and pave the way toward your experience.

When you "have" to do something, it implies that it's not a choice – that you'd rather be somewhere else, doing something other than performing massage.

This, in turn, implies that your heart isn't fully into your massage practice, which makes living up to your potential extremely difficult and enjoying your experience near impossible.

So, whey you say, "I have to go and give a massage," you are in a subtle way setting yourself up for a bad day. That doesn't mean you'll always have a bad day – but it certainly increases the likelihood.

Beyond that, however, there is a more subtle negative message you send to yourself and to others. In seems that deep down, what you're really saying is, "I don't like my massage practice. I'm not capable of choosing work that I enjoy."

What a horrible message to say to yourself (or to someone else) about something you spend most of your time doing!

Think about it. If you really loved your work, why would you be saying, "I have to give a massage?" Do you say, "I have to start my weekend now"? Wouldn't it make more sense to be saying, "I get to go give massage," or "I'm off to perform therapeutic massage," or "I'm off to another day," or something even simpler like, "I'm off to give the gift of relaxation to my clients," without the attached negativity?

I'm not suggesting you jump for joy or yell out, "Yippee, I get to go to work," but can't you come up with something just a little more upbeat to begin your day? Wouldn't you be just a little prouder of yourself? And don't you think it would be more pleasant for others to hear these more positive words?

When I leave to take care of my clients, for example, I don't want to send the message to my children, however subtle, that "work is a bummer and here I go again." Yuck!

I think you're going to be surprised at what may happen if you choose to implement this strategy. When you take this strategy to heart, as you habitually mumble "I have to give a massage" in your typical grouchy mode, you begin to catch yourself doing so. This makes you smile or laugh at yourself because you now see how ridiculous it is.

Then, as you rephrase your statement to something slightly more positive, it seems to send a subtle reminder to your brain that your expectation is that you're going to have a good day.

Wouldn't you agree that, more often than not, your expectations tend to come true?

When you expect to have a bad experience, you usually do. And when you expect to have a good one, you very seldom disappoint yourself.

If nothing else, I hope you'll at least ask yourself the question, "What possible value could these words have to the overall experience of my work day?"

Keep in mind that most people spend a minimum of eight hours a day, five days a week, working. It's something you're going to do regardless of how you choose to verbalize it to yourself and to others.

Why not get yourself off to a good start by avoiding the tendency to bad-mouth what you are about to do??

Especially if it's something that you love doing as much as massage therapy??

Something to think about...

Kris