As I write this series of blogs I am taking in the richness of South Africa and its people.
From Cape Town and Robens Island to Soweto to the game sanctuaries of the high Veld it is a country of contrasts and superb lessons for all of our lives.
Having the opportunity to see the wildlife of the plains up close and personal is truly magnificent. These animals have the freedom to be themselves in this vast expanse of natural habitat.
At the top of the food chain we find humans. The factor that gives us the edge is our highly developed frontal cortex. In the main humans have a respect for the delicate balance of nature (apart from the odd poacher intent on the rhino riches). It appears that people’s respectful presence and willingness to honour the time-tested law of the land, no matter how cruel it may seem to be allows things to work in the game reserves of Africa.
The day-to-day ‘business’ of these animals is one of survival and I wanted to share a few perspectives in this regard as they relate to our life.
Today as I watched herds of Impala, Wildebeest and Zebra grazing and drinking at a waterhole I considered their behaviours relative to chiropractic. As they are at the bottom of the food chain, they are constantly on the lookout for danger. They are always in others (predators) territory and are constantly on the ‘menu’ for the next meal.
These prey animals are constantly skittish, unable to relax, unable to stake out their turf and ready to run at the slightest indicator of danger.
By contrast we drove up to within a few meters of a pride of lions, which had just made a kill. They fed on the once magnificent Oryx and lay around quite OK with our presence only a few meters away.
These predators had a confident and calm air of trust about them. They were solid with their ownership of their terrain and need not apologise to anyone.
Sadly it would appear that many in our profession have shrunk themselves into a position of subservience, of a mindset of ‘prey’. They are always on the lookout for danger and ready to run away from the slightest challenge.
It just takes an unwarranted accusation and some chiropractors and indeed chiropractic colleges, universities and associations are only too quick to react. No, we won’t use the ‘S’ word. No, we won’t adjust children, No, we won’t see asymptomatic people, No, we won’t put our line in the sand – and the list goes on.
As a chiropractor you have a choice as to where you place yourself in the food chain. Chiropractic is such a rich and fertile profession and you don’t have to take on the role of the victim, picking up the scraps whilst jumping to someone else’s tune.
In order to take on the ownership of chiropractic and your practice I suggest that you review this checklist of the 4 essential factors for moving to the top of the food chain.
1. Own why you are doing what you do. Get really clear on your reason for being.
2. Be solid in the mechanisms that you are working with. In other words, know your science.
3. Be really great at what you do. Make your adjusting exquisite.
4. Get your ‘roar’ working and mark out your territory.
