All posts tagged: 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 important.  I am fortunate to receive frequent compliments from patients about my bedside manner, demeanor, and business practices.  Most like my enthusiasm, empathy, positivity, and straightforward business practices.  This means a lot to me because when I was first in practice, I was bombarded by people telling me what I should do, and how I should speak and act.  Most of what I heard felt disingenuous and fraudulent to me.

It is an important lesson to understand that to be successful, you do not need to change who you are.  Instead, it will likely only require you to change some of your habits, processes, or behaviors.  Using the same chiropractic example, I never compromised my morals or overall personality.  Instead, I improved my skills as a doctor, became better at communicating, and focused on understanding the experience within my office from a patient’s perspective rather than my own.  To become successful, do not abandon who you are, simply adjust certain aspects of how you operate.

Something I believe.  Do you know of any relationships that succeed with one person being completely committed and one person not?  No.  How about successful businesses with owners that focus or care about their business only a fraction of the time?  Of course not. 

I believe commitment is the most essential ingredient in the recipe for any relationship, business, or endeavor to succeed.  Too often, people give up when things become challenging.  True commitment to someone or something is being willing to go through the ups and downs required to get where you want to go.  I also believe that commitment is shown through consistent and meaningful action.  If you want to chase a goal, make sure that you are truly committed before you even start.  If you are, put in the effort every single day to get there. 

Something humorous that helps me.  My late brother-in-law and I were great friends.  I had the privilege of opening and running a business with him and coaching football with him for years.  During those times, we went through many of the trials and tribulations you would expect in business and sports.  Something I remember vividly is anytime I would voice even the slightest complaint or aggravation at something we faced, he would ask me “Are you ok?  Do you want me to get you a cucumber water?”  This was his way of telling me to toughen up, stop acting like a baby, and begin taking action.  It would always make me laugh and get me back on track.

As humorous as this is, I have thought of it for years and it truly helps me.  When I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, worried, or even slightly sorry for myself, I think of him saying that to me.  This has happened in business situations, the toughest of personal times, grueling workouts, 100-mile races, and more.  We all need a way to remind ourselves to toughen up and be more resilient, I’m thankful mine involves my brother-in-law teasing me about cucumber water!

Something important.  Have you ever gotten really excited about a goal and worked extremely hard to make it happen only to be disappointed in the results?  Maybe a promotion didn’t materialize, the scale didn’t show what you expected, you lost when you hoped to win, etc.  Failing when you put in minimal effort is expected, but failing when you are expending all your energies can be crushing.  It feels unfair because we like to believe that when we give our best, we will get rewarded.  In these situations, I have learned two things.

First, giving your absolute best to something is a requisite.  It is not a guarantee of success, but at minimum it provides satisfaction that you have done all you could.  Second, when you try hard and fail, you will want to quit.  It is precisely at that point when it becomes most important to harness your disappointment, keep trudging forward, and not decrease your effort at all.  Personally, I have found that if I can keep fighting after my toughest defeats, God always gives me something better in the future.    

Some quotes I Love.

“Don’t give up.  The hardest battles are given to the strongest soldiers.”

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

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 great reminder.  I attended a wedding last weekend for a wonderful, loving couple.  The officiant of the wedding told their story that included the time it took for the groom to eventually approach his future bride.  He also spoke of the many years during which they had to overcome logistics, distance, and other challenges to continue to flourish as a couple.  It was great to hear their story and it served as a great reminder to me.

Regardless of what you are trying to achieve, the basic formula is simple.  It will boil down to having the guts to pursue it, being willing to face challenges, and having the wherewithal to remain committed during difficult times.  Whether for a relationship, business, or attainment of any goal; I like to think of those three factors as a screening process.  If you’re willing to have courage and face tough times, you can be successful in anything you go after.

Something that made me proud.  One of my sons recently mentioned to me that a player on his team had missed a full week of practice and a game.  My son asked him if he had been sick or injured, to which the boy replied, “actually my uncle killed himself.”  My son could see the boy’s pain and told him that he had also lost his uncle (and an aunt too) at a young age only a few years ago.  My son had true empathy and was able to comfort and be a friend to him in a different way because of similar experiences. 

We all have unique lives that take us in many directions, some good and others not.  Those experiences may not allow us to relate to everyone but give us the blessing of being able to relate perfectly to some.  As in the case of my son with his teammate, sometimes we can become a shepherd for others.  We can show them things will get better, offer hope, or just relate to their situation better than most.  Regardless, experiences that once were a burden may one day put us in the position to help someone just like us.  I believe that is important and something to be proud of. 

An interesting interaction.  I was recently speaking with someone who is in overall poor health and has been for years.  At one point in the conversation, I mentioned the importance of maintaining good habits to create better health and was basically mocked.  This person began to tell me that I wasn’t healthy because I was not visiting doctors enough, that my health was based only on genetics, and that healthy people die just as easily from diseases/conditions as unhealthy people.  This type of thinking is sadly very common.

Genetics play a role in certain aspects of health and there is nothing wrong with having regular checkups to establish and monitor baseline aspects.  However, that is a tiny part of anyone’s health.  The overwhelming majority consists of the quality of decisions made in in terms of how we do/don’t move our bodies (exercise), what we ingest into our bodies, and how we care for ourselves mentally.  When those decisions are consistently positive, you will be far less likely to be sick, injured, immobile, hurt, and requiring visits to doctors constantly.  There is not a doctor on the planet that is more important to your health than the decisions you choose to make for yourself physically, nutritionally, and mentally.

Something I learned from football.  I’ve been around football for many years both playing and coaching.  Obviously, being such a violent and physically demanding sport, it is common to see bigger and stronger people playing the game with the most success.  However, there are instances where I have seen very undersized players make up for their lack of size with aggression and thrive.  They run at full speed into collisions relying on passion and courage when other bigger and more talented players often hesitate or will not do so.  Sometimes these smaller players get run over or embarrassed, but they keep coming back for more.  Seeing this always influenced me. 

This same premise has applications in daily life.  We are all given a set of basic talents, skills, and genetics.  On their own, they can only take us so far. However, those gifts can be enhanced greatly through a combination of courage, aggression, determination, and grit.  As a result, what may seem out of reach based on ability can become attainable. 

Some quotes I Love.

“Only those that see the invisible will do the impossible.”

“Half the world is composed of people that have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.” – Robert Frost

“If the voice in your head is mean to you, remember someone manipulated that voice and instilled it in you.  Kill that fake voice and find yours.” – Gary Vaynerchuck

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” – Victor Frankl

“It’s not a bad thing to ask for help, it’s a sign that you want to win more than just protect your ego.” – Dr. Josh Handt

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 helps me.  “Stay or get?”  This is a simple question I ask myself frequently that helps me quite a bit.  The point of the question is to ask myself whether I want to “stay” where I am/as I am, or if I should “get” moving toward something else.  For example, do I want to stay doing what I’m doing physically or do something to get stronger or faster? Do I want to stay where I’m at in business or get working on ways to improve my service and profitability?  Essentially, I want to ponder whether what I’m doing is my best effort or whether it could or should be improved.

To some, this may seem like a silly thing.  However, I can tell you from experience that complacency sets in faster than you’d imagine.  This happens physically, mentally, in relationships, in businesses, and more.  If you are not careful, you will wake up one day to find that you’ve slid down the hill rather than continuing to climb it.  Therefore, ask yourself regularly whether you want to stay where you are or get moving toward something better.

Something I do.  I am a huge fan of the Rocky movies.  Most of you have seen when he runs the steps in Philadelphia and reaches the top, he raises his hands overhead in triumph.  I always thought that was inspiring, so for years now whenever I finish a grueling run, workout, superset, or anything else; I raise my hands just like that.  The reason I do so is because it trains my mind and body not to seek the comfort of rest by placing my hands on my knees or sitting down.  In short, it strengthens me physically and mentally because when my body tells me I’m tired, I act triumphant.

This same premise applies to daily life.  Your toughest challenges in relationships, business, personal matters, and more can make you feel like quitting.  You will want to give up, lie on the floor, or stop moving.  Instead, make the decision to keep going, endure hardships, refuse to have a pity party, and make the most of your situation and opportunities.  Those actions are the equivalent of raising your arms overhead in triumph and will lead to successes you once thought unattainable.

A lesson I have learned in chiropractic.  Most of the patients I encounter are wonderful, nice, respectful, and enjoyable to be around.  However, there are always people that come to me who are not.  Many of them are negative, unkind, disrespectful, standoffish, and more.  Interestingly, these same people often make a big deal to me that they may not come back.  They try to hold it over my head in a manner that suggests they want me to cater to them in a way I don’t to my other patients.  This never bothers me because their presence does not bring value to my business and it’s fine if they leave. 

Whether in chiropractic or your personal life, toxic people will bring you down.  They will never be happy, satisfied, or reciprocate your efforts, affection, or love.  It will never be worth your time, energy, or money to deal with them. When people such as this come into your life, let them leave.  You will add far more to your life by subtracting them from it. 

Something I love.  I’m a huge Gordon Ramsey fan and enjoy watching him on various shows.  One of the things I enjoy and respect most about him is his insistence on high standards for any chef or restaurant he works with.  This includes the quality, temperature, taste, and appearance of food.  It also holds true with cleanliness, business practices, interactions with customers, and much more.

This is something I feel we should all utilize in our lives and our endeavors.  If our standards are low, we are not holding ourselves accountable and will be performing at a low level.  Conversely, if we have high standards, we are setting ourselves up for success.  It does not mean that we will succeed instantly.  However, it sets a tone that when we fail, we will do whatever necessary to get better.  As we repeat that process, our results will improve and soon, we will experience more success.

Some quotes I love.

“True friends are like stars; you can only recognize them when it’s dark around you.” – Bob Marley

“Whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you.”

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain

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 impressed me.  Two weeks ago, I was at a football game for my middle son.  Sadly, a player on the opposing sideline suffered a seizure (unrelated to an injury or contact) and the paramedics had to be called.  Parents and players alike were worried as this boy remained on the ground waiting to leave via ambulance.  As things got quiet, one of the players on my son’s team asked his teammates to pray for this boy.  At first there was no response, but he was insistent, and soon they were all on one knee in prayer for their opponent.

The boy who asked his teammates to pray is probably the smallest on the team by far.  He does not play a ton and in most cases, would likely not be noticed.  However, when he saw someone in need, he instantly became a leader in whatever way he could.  His teammates respected his conviction, and he led them in prayer in a way that I felt showed great strength and empathy at the same time.  Leadership is all about stepping up in times and ways that may not be expected, and that young man did just that.   

A good reminder.  I was speaking to my best friend last weekend about some issues he is facing.  They include work, ending a relationship, logistical issues going forward, and more.  I have been there myself and understand how difficult times like this can be.  My advice to him was to go “micro.”  In other words, facing the entire picture and every issue at once is going to be too daunting.  You’ll be instantly overwhelmed, so it makes sense to focus on one thing at a time.

When we are facing challenges on multiple fronts, it’s like looking at a map and knowing we need to reach multiple destinations nowhere near one another.  Since it’s impossible to get to each place simultaneously, we must choose one.  Once we have the goal, we can direct our attention more effectively toward it.  This includes taking daily actions steps as well as making sure we don’t neglect ourselves physically, mentally, nutritionally, or in terms of sleep.  In tough times, pick a single problem to begin working on, try to make daily progress toward it, and care for yourself as you do so.  This will help.

Something I hear often.  I’m often told by patients and friends the different things they “struggle with.”  In general, these involve bad habits, poor decisions, and repeating the same behaviors over a period of years.  There are exceptions, but in most cases these wounds are self-inflicted.  Furthermore, there is usually great thought given to the issue and the hold it has over us, but less consideration is given to how to resolve or improve it.

When someone tells me that they’ve been struggling with something for years or decades, it tells me they have either done nothing, not enough, or the wrong things to address it.  There is no shame in having a struggle, we all do.  However, if we’ve had them so long that we talk about them constantly and they have become part of who we are, it’s time to start wondering if we’re approaching it correctly.  If you have been facing an issue for a long time, be open to a different approach.  Sometimes, it’s not that the problem cannot be fixed but rather that we haven’t found the best method to address it.  The answer is likely to include an honest evaluation of ourselves and some hard choices, but it can be accomplished.

Something that resonates with me.  I love to watch competitive shows.  These include everything from cooking to enduring in the wild.  What strikes me is that there are always a group of contestants that seem to “lose” yet come away winning more than anyone else.  In other words, they fail to win the prize but leave happier than anyone else with what they gained through the experience.  This truly appeals to me as a man who has always tried to be his best. 

I’ve won a lot in my life athletically, as a business owner, coach, and more.  In some instances, anything less than first place would have felt like a failure.  However, there are times when going through an endeavor taught me so much that I didn’t care where I finished.  For example, I finished a 100-mile race in about 400^th place and gained a lifetime of lessons doing so.  I can think of sub .500 teams I have coached that I feel more pride in than championship teams because of how they over-achieved and grew as young men.  In life, there are times when you can contend for the top spot but other times when you are nowhere close to doing so but have an opportunity to learn and grow.  Both should be valued and respected because they are crucial in their own ways. 

Some quotes I love.

“If you don’t separate yourself from distractions, your distractions will separate you from your goals.” – Steve Harvey

“When you tell people that the delusions they are experiencing are grounded in reality and that it’s everyone else’s job in society to reflect those delusions back at them, you’re not doing them any favors.  In fact, you’re engaging in cruelty.”

“The truth is, it’s always too soon to quit.  Keep going.” – Sally Mcrae

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 resonated with me.  David Goggins is a former Navy SEAL and someone that inspires me.  I listened to him speak this week about his “1 second rule.”  He explained that regardless of how motivated, talented, or driven you may be, success will boil down to how you react over a single second.  The example he used were guys around him that quit during BUDS training because they were so cold.  They sought comfort and in their “1 second” quit, whereas the people that completed SEAL training persevered in theirs.

I find this way of thinking to be accurate.  Some of my biggest triumphs have come when I felt close to quitting but continued.  This premise applies to every important decision.  Deciding not to drive drunk, holding our temper, remaining calm in a stressful situation, attempting something that scares us, and so many other things are examples of this principle.  Take the 1 second rule seriously because you will be faced with it many times throughout your life.  The years of your life will be guided by how you react in those crucial seconds.

A recent reminder.  On Saturday night I went to bed about 9:30 stressed out.  My mind was thinking extensively about how I was going to help someone very important in my life.  I woke up only a few hours later just past midnight and couldn’t turn my brain off.  At first, I tried to get back to sleep but after an hour I decided just to get up and start mapping out what I would do to resolve the issue.  I took a couple hours to think through everything and wrote out a plan.

Foregoing the sleep was worth it for me.  Rather than continue to feel anxious and uncertain, taking the time to face the problem gave me peace and a path forward.  The second I finished writing out my thoughts I felt clear-headed, sure of how to proceed, and more energetic than I would’ve been from sleep.  This was an excellent reminder of the necessity of facing our problems head-on.  The longer we avoid them, the more daunting they become.  Therefore, deal with them as directly and as soon as possible. 

A useful skill.  Do you struggle to wake up on time, eat what you know you should, exercise regularly, study enough, watch less TV, etc.?  Things of this nature are often not completed or done properly because they are challenging.  Also, they are often far less fun and certainly less gratifying in the short term than their alternatives.  Earlier in life, I was not great in many of these areas myself. 

Now, my approach is to do my best to become a master at what I don’t want to do.  This is accomplished through consistency and a mindset where excuses are not tolerated.  As an example, if I set the goal to get up at 4am and run 10 miles, I don’t see how I feel when the alarm goes off.  I go no matter what.  It is imperative to view the difficult things you know you must do as an opponent.  You can’t allow that opponent to get the better of you, you must keep fighting back until it becomes easy to do so. 

Something I noticed.  I was around one of my son’s football teams recently and saw two examples of behavior that interested me.  The first was a coach that showed up for the game complaining about how far a walk it was from his car to the field (barely a quarter mile at most).  He kept going on about it, sounded wimpy, and then spoke to his players about showing determination and having heart.  The other example was a coach that is horribly out of shape preaching to the kids about how important it is to be well-conditioned and in shape.  In both instances I was struck by how what they were saying clashed badly with the example they were setting themselves.  This is common.

Often, we have a set of standards we know are important but do not follow ourselves.  We become great at telling others how to behave but we fail to do it.  For this reason, it is crucial to ask what our behavior, habits, and actions say about us.  Are they congruent with what we are saying?  If not, it is time to make some adjustments.  Remember, don’t talk about it, be about it.

Some quotes I love.

“When they can’t touch the person you’ve become, they’ll dig up who you used to be.”

“Even when I was close to defeat, I rose to my feet.” – Dr. Dre, Still D.R.E.

“There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in between.” – Pat Riley