I have spent time, energy and focus over the past month harping on the damaging effects that our words are having on both our profession and us as practitioners. Every time you change a word that is part of the chiropractic lexicon and substitute it for a word from the medical lexicon you change yourself, your practice, your profession and your world.
Even though we know that words are only 7% of communication, they are never the less important and have impact. I was watching a clip of Dead Poets Society movie the other day and re-appreciated the talent of the late great actor, comedian, educator and insightful wise man Robin Williams. He will be fondly remembered for so many of his words and ideas and I want to accentuate a salient point that he made in his life.
Williams is quoted as saying, “No matter what people tell you. Words and ideas can change the world”.
This statement is worth considering in the context of your practice and our profession. Are your words and ideas changing the world? How clear are you on your ideas? How well defined is your reasons for doing what you do in practice (and by this I mean EVERYTHING)? How focused is your practice statement of purpose? How congruent are your procedures and scripts?
Your ideas dictate your behaviour and your actions. Your practice is in a direct relationship to the way your ideas are formed and represented – sloppy ideas equal sloppy practice. Well-defined ideas equal a well-defined practice.
Every word you articulate has power. Your words literally shape other people’s neurology and their behaviour. Every word you utter makes a difference to your life and the lives of those you come in contact with.
Through your practice you have the power to change the life of every person you serve – one person at a time. Through this power you have the ability to literally change the world – one person at a time.
And it comes down to your intent with every person you see at every visit. Whenever you use a non-chiropractic word like “treat” for example you take away from the potential of the person. There is a huge difference between ‘treat’ and ‘adjust’ as we outlined in a previous post.
You never know, that person may be the catalyst of change that the world is waiting for and if you limit the person’s possibilities of life expression by confining them to a therapeutic model instead of honouring the innate wisdom within you may alter the course of humankind.
Mark
