Vision 2030: “Labor” Day

What does it mean to labor?

Dictionary.com states:

1. productive activity; especially for the sake of economic gain
2. the body of people engage in such activity, especially those working for wages
3. physical or mental work, especially a hard or fatiguing kind
4. a job or task to be done
5. relating to workers, their associations or working conditions
6. the physical effort and periodic uterine contractions of birth
7. the interval from the onset of these contractions to childbirth
8. The actual process of giving birth
9. to perform labor; exert ones power of body or mind;
10. to strive towards a goal
11. to act, behave, or function at a disadvantage
12. to roll or pitch heavily as a ship
13. To burden or tire
14. to work, toil, or till

I’ve rearranged the definitions from dictionary.com to group them together into three categories, first is work, second is childbirth, and third is mental state.  We’re all familiar with the ideas of work and childbirth, so let’s focus today on the mental state.

To be honest, I never really thought of “labor” being defined as strive towards a goal.  But that is what happens when we set a goal.  And any athlete knows when playing from behind, they and the team labor through the game to tie a score, show depth of conviction, and not quit.  That process can be burdensome and tiresome.

These are the definitions that matter most in the field of Chiropractic.  To connect with our innate is work.  It isn’t easy being still for most Americans, we want to move and do.  It is work.  to set a goal of achievement in our health is to KNOW that we can and are able, capable, and worthy of that achievement.  This is contrary to western health care which consistently tells us that we can’t and that we need to do or take something else, outside of ourselves, to achieve.  That’s what makes Chiropractic different.  We acknowledge that you have everything you need already inside of you.  That you can, even without us.  It’s the accountability, encouragement, and support that we provide which matters most.  We know you are toiling out there with family and friends and doctors questioning and even making sense in the moment.  But it makes more sense to know that you have and do not need.  You ARE abundant.

Labor is a mental state.  It is a good thing.  Don’t let the common thought weigh you down.  Let them do their thing, you do yours and KNOW, your work is achieving.