This blog post has been adapted from the transcription of the above video.
As we go through life, we eventually realize that we have little control of everything other than ourselves and our reaction to what happens around us.
To Change The World, Start With Yourself
There is a saying, "If you want to change the world, start by cleaning your room."
When I think about that quote, it makes me think about how there's so many challenges going on right now in the world. Ups and downs can be quite overwhelming. I remember there was a point when I had just finished medical school and residency and I was thinking, "I want to go and change the entire healthcare system!" But what I discovered over time was that it's a huge problem and challenge for just one person to go change an entire institution. It felt extremely overwhelming.
As I've matured and grown older, I've discovered what I can control most is myself and my circle of influence. That’s the best thing I can control; not necessarily changing something big and abstract outside of me, but what can I personally do within my direct surroundings.
Think about the word "responsibility" and break it down into two words: "response" and "ability." The word may mean the ability to respond, especially whenever we are going to face challenges in life. Start by asking yourself questions like, “How can I choose a proper response?” or “What can I personally do that's going to be the most empowering?”
When you start taking control of your life, you will find the courage and clarity to change things on a bigger scale.
Personal Power: What Can I Do?
It's easy to sit back and complain. We do it all the time. I know I've done it before. But that doesn't actually create a change. Some examples of “cleaning your room” would be literally just cleaning your room. Other examples involve taking care of your health and taking care of your family. All of these little things will add up and then you can start focusing on expanding that circle outside of your direct environment. You might write a letter to your congressperson. You might even run for office. You may even start up a company.
These huge tasks are things that you can do once you have taken your personal power and autonomy back. When you do that, you're going to have more autonomy and freedom, which is a much more empowering way to live.
Gaining back your sense of personal power helps you gain back control of your life and how you respond to life’s happenings.
Ketamine Treatments & Cleaning Your Room
How does all of this relate to ketamine? Well, one of the things that I've noticed at our clinic is patients who undergo the ketamine infusions start gaining more of a sense of personal power in their life.
One of the surveys that we have patients fill out with each session is called the Personal Mastery Scale. This scale is a survey that measures how empowered someone feels. One of the interesting things is that as the patients begin receiving those infusions, they get more personal mastery. They feel like they're in more control of their life.
When we have more personal power and mastery, this can make significant changes in our life. As we make cleaning our room a habit, learning to take care and nurture everything else around us becomes a habit too.
Life at times can be so full of challenges, making it hard to feel in control. You feel overwhelmed at all the things you want to change. In this blog, we talk about why, to change the things around you, you need to start by cleaning your room.
