The Three C’s of Chiropractic: Compassion, Culture and Celebration

I’m 39 years old. Almost 40.

Sometimes I still feel like a kid. Especially when I’m in my pediatric-focused practice or playing with my son.

Other times I feel like I’m in my 70s. Achy and more experienced. Not concerned if my clothes are matching or what people think of me.

Today I’m feeling regret.

Regret for past actions, tones and statements.

Regret for having less tolerance of differing points of view and needing to be right.

Regret for relationships strained or not maintained.

And while I do not question the appropriateness of those actions or inactions and see the divine perfection in this moment and where it has led me, I am grateful for the opportunity to act differently in the future.

So as I approach my 5th decade on this planet and 15th year as a chiropractor, I wish it to be with these three C’s in mind.

Compassion

For many years I lacked compassion and understanding for where other chiropractors were in their journey of discovery.

I ridiculed the very thing I once did or thought instead of listening and sharing a new perspective in a safe, meaningful way. Something quite common in the profession and humanity in general and merely a reflection of ones immaturity and lack of certainty in their new found belief.

We need more compassion in chiropractic.

Culture

Chiropractic is riddled with cliques.

Coaching groups, techniques, colleges, seminars, you name it, we look for the culture that will support and build up our particular belief systems.

And while the support is good and necessary, such exclusive behavior limits our experiences, connection and collective effectiveness.

Uniting around our core vitalistic belief system and mission of addressing vertebral subluxations is such a huge culture if only we could choose it over the minutiae that divides us.

Celebration

I choose to celebrate our differences within our core values.

Our diversity in approach does not have to be our albatross that we attempt to beat from our shoulders.

And while we should and do have accepted standards for locating and analyzing vertebral subluxations, the method of correction does not have to be the same for every spine and nervous system.

It has been my experience that having a variety of applications in practice best serves that wide diversity in structural and neurophysiological needs.

Reset

We’re in need of a reset. A moment of reconnection and remembrance of the commonality we share in what we all want as subluxation-focused chiropractors.

Our profession has been beat down for ages.

We’ve been battered by the medical establishment and worse, by our own siblings who see the profession through a very distorted lens.

However, reflecting on our wounds and plotting our revenge does nothing to create the future we all want so badly.

It’s time to take that pain, and take those abuses and not return them with attacks back at the medical system or our chiropractic counterparts but instead use that collective energy and infuse it into creation, promotion and celebration.

Celebrating this beautiful profession we are a part of.

Celebrating the incredible healing capacity of the body to thrive when restoration of normal cycles, health and function ensues.

Celebrating being a Chiropractor and celebrating Chiropractic.

I made this video a few weeks ago to share with students at The Pediatric Summit at Life University the amazing miracles we get to see as chiropractors. We are truly fortunate to do this work and to share it with others. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for all you are doing for your community and for chiropractic.

All my best…