New Beginnings
As I reflect on the word “anti-aging”, I ask myself, “Is that the best way to describe the care I provide for my patients on a daily basis?” It’s a fact that all of us are going to keep aging as long as we are able to take a breath, so, perhaps I should begin using more positive and uplifting terms to describe what I am doing to help patients feel better about themselves. Since aging is inevitable, maybe I could encourage my aesthetically-focused colleagues to, not push against the aging process, but find ways to “embrace the journey”. Maybe by guiding patients to focus on the best aspects of themselves, we, in this industry, can begin to take the pressure off of everyone to stop trying to attain the unrealistic images we are bombarded with every day in the media. I firmly believe each and every one of us has so much beauty on the inside, as well as, the outside of these magnificent bodies. I want to get out of the mindset that anything needs to be “fixed” with any of us.
We just need to find ways to train the thought processes of our patients to be more self-loving. And, trust me, this is advice I need to practice on myself, too. The aesthetics industry can be brutal for making us feel like we are never enough and we need to constantly strive to look perfect. I believe we are all amazing as we are…we just may want to enhance certain attributes or features so we can go out into this crazy world feeling more confident and strong.
So, as we near the end of 2017, we all know resolutions and goals are right around the corner. I am hoping that each of you sets intentions that will honor the light that each of you holds within. I am committed to being a physician who sees the positive attributes in every patient who decides to give me the honor of helping create balance and harmony within their body, mind, and spirit. Enhancing elegance or embracing youth so each of us can strive to be the healthiest, most vivacious creature we can be, will go a long way in helping patients live life as fully as possible. I see my role as a healer to be something like a coach or a cheerleader so patients leave my office feeling better than when they walked in. As I look at my own thought patterns, it is time for me to stop pushing against the aging process by practicing “anti-aging medicine” and embrace every decade that our beautiful bodies experience on this planet. I think “wellness medicine” is a term I resonate more closely with and I’m realizing that tweaking my perspective a tiny bit can powerfully influence my daily interactions with my patients in the most beneficial ways.
As we approach a New Year and “New Beginnings” in 2018, maybe we can each step outside the box of what it means to set New Year’s Resolutions. Resolution sounds so rigid and final, and not very joyful. Maybe we could rename them “Intentions that motivate and excite”. The last thing any of us needs is to put more pressure on ourselves by setting goals that we aren’t completely lined up with and will only sabotage any forward movement in our lives. I am a firm believer in balance….in all areas of life. If you want a pizza, savor and enjoy every bite. If you want a beer or glass of wine, appreciate the taste. Then focus on some healthy eating habits at your next meal. Whenever any action stops feeling fun or enjoyable…ask yourself “Why am I putting so much pressure on myself to do, think, be a certain way?” Finding ways to feel more blissful…about the aging process, our exercise routine, our food choices, etc. etc. holds a lot of power in helping us to become the best version of ourselves possible. Choose to be gentle, kind, and loving with yourself and those around you, and your life will unfold gracefully.
Dr. Kelly Collins
(Premier Wellness)