Being of Service.
As massage therapists we have the opportunity and
challenge to work with others who are in pain and seeking another way. What if
pain is supposed to bring a message to the client and when we work to take it
away we are doing a dis-service to the client? To ensure that when you
work with clients you are being of service and not attempting to fix others
requires that you have a deep understanding of yourself.
Being of Service is another way of working with clients
that allows them to have their pain and assist them in finding out what it means
to them.
To do this as a professional, we need to be able to set
ourselves aside to remain present with the client and really be able to help the
client listen to the message their body is telling them. Setting ourselves
aside is different from giving up the self which is the hidden agenda of many in
the helping professions. It is so easy for "helpers or caretakers" to give
themselves up in order to take care of the others needs.
The self I am referring to is the self that is needy and
wanting to give advice, fix -or in other words the ego. It is the ego who
needs to be the center of attention.
The other self, the true or authentic self reveals itself
when the ego is strong enough to let go and make way for the true Self.
To be able to set one's self (small s- =ego self) aside
requires that one be in touch with their true Self (big S = authentic Self).
This is an ongoing process that requires the courage to take the steps to look
at ourselves in a different way.
There are many different methods, books and articles that
really are saying the same things but in slightly different ways. The Path
to the True Self is different for each person.
The basic underlying theory involves
- Becoming self aware and/or self-observant of what
drama, beliefs and needs are driving the car.
- Learning to feel in each and every moment, staying
present to what is rather than reacting out of the pain of the past or the
fear of the future.
- Coming to know that the feelings as real as they feel
are not accurate perceptions of reality. Accepting what is.
-
Letting go of the false beliefs, the thoughts and
feelings that drive us. Being courageous enough to set those thoughts,
beliefs and feeling aside to be with another fully.
- Being fully present is Being of Service
