All posts tagged: prenatal chiropractor

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.  

Something that inspired me.  On Friday night, my wife and I volunteered at a Starry Night Prom event.  This is a wonderful event thrown for people with physical and/or mental handicaps that is structured like a prom with dressing up, a red-carpet walk, sit down dinner, dancing, karaoke, and more.  My wife and I were “buddies” that were paired up with a date for the evening.  It was incredibly special.

I was inspired to see a group of people that have undoubtedly suffered many challenges, have amazing moments for themselves.  Watching people walk the red carpet with smiles on their faces, high fiving, twirling, waving, and more was emotional in a beautiful way.  All night I saw people enjoying moments that were important to them on the dance floor, singing karaoke, and more.  It fueled my soul to see some special people enjoying a little taste of the spotlight.  It’s nice to have exceptional moments for ourselves but it was more amazing to see such deserving people also have wonderful moments!

Something I believe.  I was consulted this week by two people regarding how best to help some of their clients with adhering to better nutrition and exercise.  These particular people are in their 40’s and often fail to follow the advice they paid to receive.  I was asked whether I thought they needed to be encouraged constantly to get “wins throughout the day” or whether I thought they needed tough love.

In instances where mistakes are being made but the effort is high, I am a fan of encouragement.  People in this category can benefit tremendously from a little confidence boost.  Sometimes, praising someone’s effort but fine-tuning their approach can make all the difference.  Conversely, when effort is low, excuses are high, and people are failing to follow through on their responsibilities, I never find encouragement effective.  Those times call for truth and tough love because if a person is not motivated to help themselves, nothing anyone says can help.  In these cases, I have found the most value in having people consider reasons they may be self-sabotaging.  Depending on the effort, a pat on the back may be the right strategy while other times, a kick in the butt is better.

A lesson I’ve learned.  There will be times in your life when you will be in pain, exhausted, grief stricken, lonely, bored, and/or worse.  You will find yourself on the ropes mentally and physically and these are likely to be some of the most brutal times you ever experience.  This will be when you most want to give up but when it is most important to keep battling.

I have learned through the loss of friends and family members (decades before their time), divorce, financial difficulties, painful races, and more; there are times when things will seem hopeless, senseless, and overwhelming.  When you get there, you only have two choices, keep going or quit. If you give up, it will get worse.  If you decide to keep going, it won’t feel amazing right away.  It’ll feel like a chore, but you must “embrace the suck” because every second you keep going will make you stronger and teach you a lesson.  Battling through the lowest points in life gave me confidence that I cannot and will not be broken.  If you are facing a tough time in your life, keep fighting because it will teach you the same.

Something I have found effective.  Have you ever had times in your life when you can’t seem to get out of your own head?  When you worry about all your problems day and night or over-analyze things to the point where you begin to annoy yourself?  I certainly have.  There are numerous ways to help with this, but I believe one of the most effective is finding a way to help others.

When you seek to help others, it provides a healthier perspective.  It reminds us that we are not the center of the world and that our problems may not be quite as large as we thought.  More importantly, it gives a feeling of satisfaction that you’ve made a difference in someone else’s life or circumstances.  Last Friday, I had a lot on my mind and was quieter than usual (I’m rarely quiet or have a bad day).  It was not my best day but after two minutes of volunteering my time at the Starry Night event that evening, my outlook was transformed.  I did not spend a second thinking of my “problems” for those five hours, and it got me back on track.  Even if you are going through a tough time yourself, try to help someone else.  It will make a tremendous and positive difference in your outlook. 

Some quotes I love.

“A bad system will beat a good person every time.” – W. Edwards Deming

“Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin.” – Victor Kaim

“The biggest asset in the world is your mindset.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

“Don’t fear failure.  Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” – Elissa Robertson

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.  

A concept from coaching that applies to life.  When I coach my football team, one of the things my assistant and I try to teach the kids is how to deal with bad plays.  Even the best players make mistakes, so it becomes crucial to deal with them in a constructive way.  We teach them to quickly evaluate the error and whether it was mental or physical so they can try to avoid it going forward.  More importantly, we teach them to have a short memory by forgetting the bad play and instantly getting focused on the next play.  This helps make sure one play doesn’t turn into two, a bad game, or lack of confidence.

This simple concept has profound applications in life.  When things go wrong (and they will), the key is to accept them and move on as quickly as possible.  Learn what you can from any errors you make and use that information going forward.  Making a mistake is never an excuse to stop trying, reduce your effort, or allow passion or enthusiasm to fade.  When you screw up, dust yourself off and get back in the fight.

A question we should all ask ourselves.  Anyone with gardening experience will know that for flowers to grow properly they will require the proper nutrients from sunlight, soil, and water.  Without the proper balance, nothing will grow as efficiently or effectively as possible.  As humans, we require our nutrients from what we ingest, how we treat our bodies physically, and what we put into our minds.

Therefore, an important question is what nutrients are you putting into your bodies from these areas?  Examples of poor nutrients are heavily processed and non-nutritious foods, alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise, heavy consumption of television and social media, avoiding challenges, poor relationships, and more.  Conversely, a healthy diet, avoiding toxic substances, exercising regularly, quality time with people that make you better, and avoiding excessive screen time will all stimulate your body and mind to perform better.  There is not a single thing in your life that will not be improved simply by increasing the good “nutrients” and decreasing the things that rob you of them. 

Something that helps me.  When I played football in high school and in college, I must have heard the phrase “the eye in the sky doesn’t lie” a million times.  This refers to the process of games, (and sometimes practices) being recorded, evaluated by the coaches, and then shown in front of the team.  Regardless of excuses, the “eye” always shows proof of effort and performance.  It was always nice to have personal highlights pointed out by the coaches, but the memorable times were when the coaches showed my embarrassing moments and total misses.  Those hurt, but they made me want to adjust, so they never happened again.

Having absorbed this concept from football, I find it helpful to apply it to my daily life.  I like to imagine that the eye in the sky is always on me as I treat patients, interact with my wife and children, coach my team, exercise/train, compete in races, and more.  My goal is to behave in a way that if I were to see those actions replayed to me on a screen, I would be proud.  Sometimes that happens effortlessly, while other times I would be mortified to see myself.  Imagining that all my actions could be played back to me has assisted me in striving for greater integrity and quality in everything I do.  What would the eye in the sky say about you?

A concept I utilize.  I have encountered many losses in my life.  These can be defeats in sports, business ventures or decisions that didn’t go right, coaching blunders, failures in races, and many more.  Regardless of the failure, I always like to do what I call “getting back in the lab.”  This means I do an honest assessment of what went wrong, how I failed, and why I failed.  Then, just as a scientist would, I begin to fix those mistakes by introducing innovative ideas, controlling variables, and eliminating things that proved not to be useful.  This is done alone with no fanfare.

Like anyone, I hate to fail.  That said, I really love the process of getting “back in the lab.” It is an opportunity to heal my wounds, restore my confidence, discover new approaches, and re-dedicate myself to meeting my goal.  I always find it empowering and I would estimate 90% of my greatest triumphs in life have come after I’ve done this.  If you have failed to succeed in something important to you, do not hide from it.  Accept your failure and get to work on how you’ll do better the next time by working through it on your own. 

Some quotes I love.

“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus

“You cannot see your reflection in boiling water.  Just like you cannot see truth in a state of anger.  You only find clarity when you are calm.”

“Remember, when you are dead, you do not know you are dead.  It is only painful for others.  The same applies when you are stupid.” – Ricky Gervais

“Victims make excuses.  Leaders deliver results.” – Robin Sharma

“You become unstoppable when you fall in love with the process.  Not just the progress.” – Marcus Rice

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.  

A good lesson.  Years ago, I recall someone giving me advice on cooking.  First, they told me that the last thing I should be doing is to turn the burners on.  That was because if I blew past the necessary preparatory steps and skipped to the end, things would get missed or rushed and destroy the dish.  The other advice was that I was not yet experienced enough to improvise.  This was given to mean that I had not mastered the basics enough to make it up as I went.  Instead, I  needed to follow specific recipes to gain some of that information.  These are solid lessons for cooking, but I believe apply to life as well.

Good outcomes are a process.  They require the right amount of certain things (hard work, consistency, etc.) and less of others (poor habits, laziness, etc.).  As they are followed, you gain knowledge that allows you to improve and refine them in the future.  Picking a dish you want to make and following a recipe is no different than selecting a goal and following the necessary steps to achieve it.

An interesting interaction.  Several weeks ago, I wrote that I watch motivational videos on YouTube in the mornings to give me an extra boost that I use for my workout, morning routine, and workday.  I spoke to someone this week that told me they tried doing the same but that it “hasn’t helped.”  When I asked some follow up questions as to their routine, it turned out they were doing extraordinarily little.  They were expecting the motivation to carry them toward greater things.

Motivation is not magic, it will not make you do anything.  I like to think of motivation as the smallest of sparks that nudges you in a direction, but from there it is our job to follow through with action.  Motivation is fleeting and unpredictable and thus unreliable.  What can be relied upon is routine, consistency, and discipline.  Once those tenets are in place, only then can you use motivation to enhance them. 

Something I’ve reflected on.  Last month, I completed my 100-mile race as you know.  The race was set up to have five, twenty-mile laps.  As I neared the end of my 4^th lap at mile 80, there were seven other runners finishing their 4^th loop like me.  I could overhear pieces of conversations some were having.  Based on only hearing a sentence or two, I believed I knew who would quit and who would continue.  Of the eight of us, I thought six would quit once we finished the lap and I was correct. 

Though we were all literally at the same point in the race, some saw its completion as too daunting.  Those were the people I heard speaking negatively.  As they ended that lap, I watched some sit down and cover up with blankets and knew they were done.  The two of us that did not quit actually said nothing, and at the end of the lap, simply grabbed our supplies and headed back out.  The lesson I took from this is that sometimes the best thing you can do is not allow yourself any option other than to continue onward and keep battling.  You may not always succeed, but you will never look back with the  regret of quitting.          

Something that has helped me.  For years, I have conditioned my mind to remind me to “do extra.”  In other words, I want to do more (even just slightly more) than what is required or expected.  I utilize this premise in my physical endeavors with distance, time, and/or repetitions.  I also use it in my patient interactions and treatments with an extra tidbit of advice, following up to see if there are other issues I may be able to help with, or even just offering an encouraging word or two.  Regardless of what it is, the goal is to try to get slightly better in whatever I’m doing, each time I attempt it.  Training yourself to seek small, incremental improvements in any endeavor can lead to enormous progress. 

Some quotes I love.

“You don’t need more time.  You need less distractions.” – Jen Cohen

“Nothing will hurt more than knowing that you quit on yourself.  So don’t.” – Dr. Josh Handt

 “If you focus on the things you have, you’ll always have enough.  If you focus on the things you don’t have, you’ll never have enough.” 

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.  

Something that inspired me.  Last Friday night, my wife and I volunteered at an “All-Stars Event.”  This is an evening where individuals with physical and/or mental handicaps are paired with a volunteer (a “buddy”) for an evening of fun so their parents and/or caretakers can have a few hours to themselves.  I went excited to help but left inspired. 

What inspired me was the overall vibe I got from those with the disabilities.  They remained completely in the moment, excited about small things, polite, kind, and never complained.  Whether getting pumped to sing karaoke, play a game, attempt an activity, or just spend time around people that were also enjoying themselves; the attitudes I saw were amazing.  Smiling and persevering no matter the circumstance is something I believe in.  I saw that on full display last Friday from those amazing people.

Something that impressed me.  At that same event on Friday, lots of the volunteers were high school age.  Many volunteered in part to receive credit toward the service project hours that most schools require for graduation.  When I heard they were there for that reason, a part of me thought perhaps they would give a half-hearted effort, check their phones constantly, or otherwise just go through the motions.  I am happy to say, that was not the case.

Instead, I saw a group of young people that gave an incredible effort while having fun and helping.  No one was afraid to look foolish singing, dancing, or playing, and I witnessed some wonderful connections being made between the volunteers and the attendees.  I saw energy and patience on display throughout the evening.  I believe that if you are going to “be in” on any endeavor, you should be “all in.”  Those young people did exactly that and I was proud to see it. 

A good question to ask yourself.  “Who or what am I loyal to?”  This question is crucial because it helps identify who and what is important to you.  These can be people, outcomes, goals, causes, or more.  Then, it allows you to evaluate whether the way you’re spending your time and directing your energy is supporting those loyalties or not. 

The people/things you are loyal toward should remain your focus and help you avoid distractions.  For example, being loyal to your children means spending time with them, teaching them, and helping to better their lives.  If your actions strengthen that, then you’re in sync with that loyalty.  Conversely, if you identified health as a loyalty but are not careful with what you eat, drink, or how you move; you are not supporting it.  Give thought to where your loyalties lie, then back them up through action. 

A lesson that has stuck with me.  One year out of chiropractic school, I joined a successful practice in Connecticut.  The owner/chiropractor was an amazing doctor and businessman who became my mentor.  Joining the office of such an accomplished doctor so early in my career made my deficiencies as a chiropractic physician noticeable.  As a result, it was initially a struggle to get patients to come see me or stay with me for treatment.  It was quite humbling. 

Rather than complain or make excuses, I focused on improving my craft (and the other doctor greatly helped me).  My skills began to improve, slowly my confidence increased, and I began to expand my patient base.  By the time I left that practice for Colorado six year later, I was equally as busy as the other doctor and had won two awards as best chiropractor in the county.  I learned that when you encounter adversity to never give up or lose faith in yourself.  Instead, learn what you can each day (often from mistakes), persevere, and understand that growth is a process.  That will allow you to address weaknesses, double down on strengths, and discover your own unique style.  I continue to utilize that lesson professionally, personally, in my physical endeavors, as a coach, and more.   

Some quotes I love.

“A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant.”

“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but keep going anyway.”

“If you’re not dreaming big for yourself, who’s doing it for you?”  Gary Vaynerchuck

“Before you can win, you have to believe you are worthy.” – Mike Ditka

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.  

Something I believe.  Each one of us will experience tough times in our lives, sometimes through no fault of our own.  Someone we love passes away or gets sick, we lose a job, COVID destroys a new business, or any number of possibilities.  When such things happen, it is important to realize that stuff can just happen that we did not need, expect, or deserve.

While certain occurrences may not be our fault, how we react to them is absolutely our responsibility.  I interact with people constantly that have been dealt a tough hand but are unwilling to let it go.  They simply cannot move past their challenges and often become bitter and unmotivated as a result.  On the other side of the coin are those that face terribly challenging times but become motivated to create something amazing as a result.  If/when something bad happens, do all you can to move forward with purpose and motivation.  Getting knocked down is not your fault, staying down is. 

An important question.  “Are you interested or committed?”  This is worth asking yourself in any endeavor because it sets forth a precedent.  If you’re interested in something, you will give a level of effort that meets that threshold.  For example, you will do something only as long as it’s fun, new, different, or holding your attention.  This entails a minimal effort usually for a small duration of time.

When you are committed to something, you are promising yourself that you will pursue the goal regardless of emotion or circumstance.  A committed marital partner vows to be there for their spouse no matter what, being committed to a goal is no different.  Signs of commitment (in my opinion) include high level of effort, taking personal responsibility, learning from mistakes, asking questions, taking risks, being unafraid to fail, not being guided by feelings, and more.  Someone that is interested hangs around until it’s no longer fun, a committed person stays until the job is done successfully.

An important concept.  We’ve all been on airplanes as the safety instructions are announced.  What I have always found interesting is the part about putting your own oxygen mask on first before helping others in an emergency.  This is another way of telling people to take care of themselves so they can better assist those around them.  I believe this same principle to be true as it pertains to our health and well-being in daily life.

If you are in a bad place mentally or physically; do you think you can effectively help those around you?  Often, we feel selfish for pursuing better health and outcomes for ourselves, but this should not be the case.  Caring for yourself through exercise, good nutrition, spirituality, and better mental health (just to name a few); creates a better version of you.  This translates into being a stronger parent, sibling, friend, co-worker, coach, businessperson, leader, and more.  The greater a person becomes, the more they can help others.  For this reason, self-care is not selfish, it is imperative.

An important concept.  The standards we set forth are crucial.  These include how we behave, the way we do things, our actions, what we allow or disallow, our non-negotiables and more.  They are our roadmap for every activity we perform and relationship we have.  My personal belief is that our standards serve as a ladder, either they bring us higher or drop us lower.

Doing things only to get by, meeting a bare minimum, or tolerating poor behavior from ourselves/others are examples of low standards.  Behaving in this fashion tends to bring about even lower standards later as we get comfortable setting the bar low.  Higher standards revolve around diligence, not settling, maximum effort, and being happy with how we treat/are treated by others.  High standards tend to elevate further as we see results and we the value of holding ourselves even more accountable.  Give thought to the standards you set forth and whether they are bringing you up or down the ladder.

Some quotes I love.

“Winners don’t do different things.  They do things differently.” – Shiv Khera

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote

“The more you wake up to who you are, the more unbearable it becomes to be who you are not.” – Aubrey Marcus