Practice Tip Of The Week -- 8-4-98  .. Dr. Dennis Perman .. Masters9@aol.com

Accepting Growth

Dennis Perman DC,  for The Masters  

Practice Tip Of The Week -- At the upcoming Masters Practice Development Weekend in New 
Jersey,  my dear friend and top consultant Alan Rousso DC will be speaking about one of the most 
important issues we face on the road to success and fulfillment,  and that is our willingness to 
endure the discomfort that often accompanies growth.

While I won't upstage his excellent class by giving you his slant on this topic (if you want to hear 
his insights,  come and join us at the seminar August 28-30),  I do have a few comments I'd like to 
throw into the mix.

My philosophy is that everyone has enough potential to be happy and successful -- the degree of 
fulfillment you experience is based on the amount of your potential you gain access to and use.  
Everyone has slightly different equipment to work with,  but all of it is more than good enough to 
achieve greatness in your chosen scope of interest.  The amount of your potential that you are able 
to apply is called your capacity,  and the idea that you can identify limitations in your capacity and 
build resources to gain access to more of your potential and improve in those weaker areas is the 
foundation of our company's approach to helping you grow.

One of the more bizarre and ironic paradoxes we deal with is the conflict between the notion,  "I'm 
perfect just the way I am,"  and the notion,  "In order to grow,  I must be willing to change,"  in 
other words,  to be something better or more.  This seems contradictory,  until you notice that the 
"I'm perfect" belief refers to the unlimited potential you have to work with,  and the "I must be 
willing to change" belief refers to the implementation of the potential for the purpose of 
manifestation -- being and doing.

Why do we find it uncomfortable to change?  The primary reason is our natural tendency to 
maintain homeostasis,  to establish a set point and to resist deviating too far from that arbitrary 
point of balance.  The farther we get from our set point,  the more unfamiliar and uncomfortable it 
feels,  which takes our focus off the task at hand and puts it onto our discomfort.  Ironically,  what 
we focus on,  we draw to us,  so this unfortunate focus on the discomfort actually makes it worse.  
Instead,  we need to learn to keep ourselves in the process of growth,  regardless of the 
discomfort,  so we can break through,  endure the "passage of pain" that Dr. Markson talks about,  
and emerge on the other side stronger,  better,  an enhanced version of ourselves -- still with the 
same perfection at the essence,  but with more "you" exposed and available to use as you see fit.

When you can preserve your momentum,  even in the presence of the discomfort of growth,  you'll 
create the most breakthrough and usually,  the most fulfilling results.  Learning to tolerate risk is 
uncomfortable,  but it trains you to handle the emotional intensity that can accompany great 
accomplishment. 

Practice Tip Of The Week -- 8-25-98  .. Dr. Dennis Perman .. Masters9@aol.com

Focus:


At our recent Circle Of Life seminar in Beaver Creek,  our guest speakers David Gershon and Gail 
Straub did an interesting demonstration.  They called three volunteers to the front of the room,  and 
instructed them in the following way -- the first participant,  a large,  strong man,  would 
symbolize the "problem" or obstacle,  and stood stage center with his arm out,  blocking the path of 
the second participant,  a medium sized woman.  Beyond the man with the outstretched arm was 
the third participant,  who represented the "vision,"  or in other words,  the outcome or objective.

The exercise was simple -- the woman was to walk toward her "vision,"  with the "problem" 
blocking her way,  and to notice and describe her experience.

The first time she walked,  she was instructed to focus on the "problem" -- to concentrate her 
attention and effort on getting past the obstacle in her path.  On this first trial,  she walked into the 
"problem" and could go no further -- she was easily stopped by the man's outstretched arm.

Then,  for the second attempt,  she was told to focus on the "vision" -- in essence,  to look past the 
problem and concentrate on pursuing her ultimate objective.  This time,  using no more energy than 
the first time,  she effortlessly walked through the surprised man's arm,  moving him back several 
steps before he yielded.

This simple game illustrates an important point in goal seeking and achieving -- that your energy 
flows to where your attention goes.  Like in Tony Robbins' famous story about racing car school,  
when you're skidding out,  look at where you want to go,  not at the wall you're headed for.  
Training yourself to look in the direction of your dream or goal instead of at the obstacles in your 
path is a key tool for accomplishment.

Have you been focusing on your vision,  or on the adversities that seem to be in your path?  With a 
little clarity,  you can begin to reshape your practice and your lifestyle,  so use questions like these 
to redirect your thinking.

If I could have the practice that would be a reflection of me at my best,  what would that practice be 
like?  How many people would I serve each day?  How much money would I make?  What kind of 
patients would I attract?  What kind of staff would I have?  What would my office look like?  What 
kind of equipment would I have?  What would my office hours and office policies be like?  Who 
would I have to be to make this happen?

Being willing to brainstorm on questions like this will clarify and enrich your vision of your ideal 
practice.  The clearer you are about your vision,  the easier it is to keep your attention focused on 
that vision,  instead of the obstacles in your way.  You will,  at times,  have to deal with such 
problems -- and when you do so by staying focused on your ultimate outcome,  you will have 
maximum power and momentum to handle whatever challenges you encounter.