Walking through times of transition
Employed/self-employed to business owner
Did you know what you wanted to do from a young age? I certainly did. I discovered Chiropractic at the age of 12 and couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
I graduated as a Chiropractor from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia almost 10 years ago. For the first 8 or so years of my professional career I worked as either an employee or self-employed. However, my husband (who is also a Chiropractor) and I recently opened our own clinic, which now also makes me a Business owner. This has been a huge transition for both of us, and a massive learning curve, which we are still leaning into. It’s been an adventure, and one that will never truly be over.
Big transitions like this will take a toll on each of us in different ways. I have had many in my life, the least of which was crossing the globe to live in an entirely different country. The UK may speak the same language as Australia, but there are differences in the subtleties of that language, and its customs are quite different from those I grew up with. I have had to make adjustments and learn to bend with the changes this transition has foisted on me. It was something I was prepared for, but the extent to which it has changed me does boggle my mind at times.
Transition, or change, is a natural part of life. Without change life stagnates - we are changing on a cellular level every moment - so when bigger transitions arrive how do we handle them?
Some of us have an innate fear of big or drastic changes, while others embrace change in all its forms to the detriment of steady progression over time. Either way transition is a time of stress - not just emotionally or physically, but mentally as well. The way we deal with changes can have a dramatic effect on our overall health and well-being.
For example, if you’re someone who avoids change at all costs and fights it tooth and nail, the anguish and emotional exhaustion you’ll suffer will be higher than someone who approaches change with a wary but more receptive mind. Contrary to this, if you rush into every change without taking the time to consider the consequences you can cause yourself undue stress both physically and mentally, by not being prepared, even slightly, for what is yet to come.
Business owner to full-time mum
I’m now entering another transitional phase, as we are expecting our first child in May. This is definitely unknown territory to be making headway in. Pregnancy itself hasn’t been an issue for me personally. I have been blessed with a very easy, straight forward, no hassles journey thus far. No morning sickness, no weird symptoms or even cravings! As I write this I’m heading into my 34th week, well and truly into third trimester.
Becoming a mother is something I am both looking forward to and a bit anxious about. I’m sure I’m with the majority in being worried of making mistakes, and potentially struggling to care for the small human that’s about to enter the world! This is a change of a magnitude I’ve not dealt with before. However, people have been dealing with it for millennia, so I shouldn’t get too concerned, but knowing that doesn’t always help.
At the end of the day I can only do my best, try my hardest and be open to the help of others. Having a mostly positive attitude to what may come, and being open to last minute changes is more likely to enable me to deal with issues which may arise.
In speaking of being open to help, I have found routine Chiropractic treatment a definite pro in keeping my body supple and mostly ache free. I have had the privilege of working with many pregnant mums-to-be in my career, and have to say I am loving being on the receiving end of treatment myself.
As an aside, my husband absolutely loves babies. In fact he’s the first to steal them for a cuddle whenever an opportunity arises, but he also loves being able to help babies on a professional level too. Treating babies and children is very different to adults, but it is equally amazing. He’s very much looking forward to assessing and treating our own little one when they arrive.
Being a Chiropractor is a real privilege. Helping people get back to health is an amazing pursuit. Treating patients while pregnant is another privilege I am so glad to be experiencing, there’s a little adjusting to do around the gradually growing bump, but the experience only ever gets richer and cements my faith in the decision I made so long ago: to spend my working life helping others through Chiropractic.
By Georgia Kyriacou