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In the Service of LifeI first started exploring the idea of being of service after reading an article by Rachel Remen, MD called "In the Service of Life" It really made me start thinking about how we as massage therapists are set up to "fix" rather than heal. Many people come to the massage profession and other helping professions thinking they just want to help. Well helping has a deep, dark hidden side to it that no one has talked about much. We often help others who are in need so that it can make us feel better.
It starts in massage school as we learn so many techniques and we are taught to do a massage on someone rather than with someone. We are taught how to work to reduce or eliminate people's pain. We think we are helping when we try to give our advice. We think we are helping when we think that the client has the same story as us and that sharing it with them will make them feel better. What if advising, helping, sharing and working to reduce or eliminate pain were a dis-service to the client? What if a person's pain is really a message for them to learn something about themselves - to awaken some part of themselves that has been repressed or in the shadows. How do you know when you are helping and when are you being of service? Remen states in her article "When I help I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve I have a feeling of gratitude" How often do we work to take people's pain away feeling good about ourselves and think that we had the power to do so? It becomes an addiction - almost like eating candy - so sweet yet not really good for you.
How can we as health care professionals get more in touch with the needs that we have that call us to help? How can we learn to set ourselves aside so that we can witness the mystery, surrender and awe that is a part of the service of life?
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