It’s no secret that 2020 has been a big kick in the pants. It’s been a year unlike any other, and I know we’re all ready to say farewell to it once and for all. 

Despite how this year has turned out, it’s still worth your time to look back over it one last time. It may take a minute to look past the noise, clutter, and negativity, but when you do, you’ll see experiences that have made you stronger, more resilient, and a better wellness clinician.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent some time reflecting on my own 2020. Here are four of the most important take-away lessons I learned.

Lesson 1: Adopt an “I Can” Mindset

Think back throughout this year. How many times were you faced with situations you never expected? Did you:

• have to close your practice?
• transition patients to a virtual model for the first time ever?
• go Live for the first time on social media?
• launch a new product or service, or learn a new skill?

2020 has dished out some seriously low blows, and it’s been tempting to throw in the towel and say, “I can’t…” But think about:

How you’ve made it through this year…

How you’ve overcome plenty of challenges…

How you’ve stood up to 2020 and figured things out anyway…

And now, as you go into 2021, it’s time to strike “I can’t” from your vocabulary and replace it with “I can.” Because guess what, my friend? You did it!

Lesson 2: Clarity in Your Practice Is Key

Why did you start your wellness practice? To help people, right? I love that about you! 

But how do you want to help them? And who do you want to focus on helping the most?

This lesson was a stark reminder of the importance of having a niche. You’ve heard me talk about it already, but this lesson is too important for the success of your practice and one that shouldn’t be overlooked. And here’s why. 

While 2020 wasn’t what I expected, I was (and still am!) unbelievably passionate about helping clinicians build thriving, profitable practices. So, when the unexpected challenges came along, I already had a positive place to focus. I didn’t have to guess…I already knew exactly what to do.

Even in the midst of such a tough year, I was able to cultivate happiness and fulfillment in my work – because I was crystal clear on who I served and how. So, dig deep and find the things that light you up. It’s the key to your happiness and to building a successful practice.

Lesson 3: Breaking up Is Hard to Do

I’m not talking about breaking up with your family, friends or spouse. I’m talking about cutting loose the people in your practice that would be better served elsewhere. I know this isn’t the most optimistic thing to talk about. But it matters.

Take inventory of all the people you interact with in your practice. People like:

• Business associates, team members, contractors, and so on. Are they consistently showing up and knocking it out of the park for you?
• Patients. Letting a patient go is tough. If you’re facing this challenge, check out this podcast on how to end a patient relationship with integrity and grace.
• That one person on Facebook… You know who I’m talking about. The one who gets in your head or under your skin. It might be time to unfollow or unfriend them.

Saying “no” to a relationship is hard stuff. But as a practitioner and business owner, it’s soooo important to keep your relationships free from drama and negative energy.

Lesson 4: A Team Makes All the Difference

You’re not meant to go through life alone. You’re built for relationships and community – not just in your personal life but also in your practice. 

When you have the right people on your team, you can do just about anything. 

So, take a deep look and see who you may need to bring in to help you. Maybe it’s:

• A Virtual Assistant to take care of billing and scheduling tasks
• Someone to help with your social media or marketing strategy
• That Business Coach who can take your practice to the next level

Assembling your own power team, even if they’re part-time, will take some of the heavy lifting off your shoulders. This will free you up to focus on what you love doing the most – being the superstar practitioner you are.

You’re Braver Than You Realize

2020 has thrown some pretty unexpected curveballs – and ones you certainly didn’t want. But out of that, good things still happened. You grew. You learned. You pivoted and you evolved.

So here’s what I want you to do. Spend a few moments this week writing down what and who you’re grateful for. While you’re at it, jot down what you want to carry forward into next year. 

And remember – you made it!