Reflecting On My First Year As A Hypnotherapist

It’s been a year since qualifying and leaving teaching now. I always thought school years go by quickly but this year has felt like 5 minutes! It’s time to reflect honestly on what this first year has been like. The highs, the lows and everything in between is worthy of sharing. As I often say to clients, progress is rarely linear, and this is the case whatever you’re trying to progress in, from emotional healing, to weight loss, to starting a business.

I’m some ways, I’ve been on a journey alongside my clients. My own journey has been building a business doing what I love so that I can truly be me. Anything worthwhile requires effort. For me, taking back my true self is worth every step, even the tricky ones.

The Lows

I’m going to start with the difficult parts so I can get them out the way and not dwell too much on them. Here goes:

Feelings of Unworthiness

This has to be top of the list. I’ve found myself having moments once again where I feel like I have no right to success. I look around me at every other self-employed woman in all lines of work and always feel lacking. It’s not even about comparison. It’s a built-in ‘loser’ complex that goes back to my school days when I wasn’t exactly in with the ‘in’ crowd. On a deep level, I still believe that everyone is better than me. Not more capable, talented or smarter, just ‘better’ in some inexplicable way. This has raised its head again this year and I’m determined to work through it. Lots of tapping and reframing negative thinking happening here!

Being a Businesswoman

I’m learning…

Routine

I spent nearly 40 years of my life ruled by a school bell and I’m not over it yet.

I’m grateful that I can pick my own working hours now (to an extent), but sussing out my working hours - and sticking to them - has not been easy! Like a small child, I thrive on routine and structure. I didn’t recognise that about myself until this year. Taking away the structure of the school day has somewhat pulled the rug from under me. I’ll get used to it!

But now for the Highs. 😁

Client Wins

Top of the list for good reason. Self explanatory. It’s why I do what I do. From stopping smoking, to weight loss, to managing anxiety, there is no job satisfaction like witnessing someone regain control of their life. It’s magic (well, it’s actually neuroscience, but you know what I mean).

Learning

Oh, I could do CPD courses every day if I didn’t also want to actually put the learning into practice with clients! The learning doesn’t stop when you gain your first certificate. There is so much that is fascinating about holistic therapies such as hypnotherapy and EFT so I absolutely love learning more.

Connections

Connections with other therapists and small business owners has been lovely and so welcome. I miss having colleagues around me, so these connections, both via social media and in person, are so valuable.

Variety

Although I’m used to a very structured working day, week, term… I’ve really enjoyed the variety this year has presented me with. Whilst building my practice I’ve still done supply teaching which I’ve loved and have also worked as the Chief Invigilator for the exams which was the challenge I didn’t know I needed in my life. 😅

I still have my wee art business on the side and have been consistently busy working on bespoke illustrations and preparing for my first solo exhibition next year. 😁

Even working with clients presents me with variety every day. Everyone is an individual and brings something different. I’ve also done talks in schools, for parents’ groups, at wellbeing events… my working days are always varied and interesting.

Feeling In Alignment With Myself

I’m now a therapist and artist. This feels so much more right for me than being an English teacher ever did. It took me a long time before I could even say the words ‘I’m a teacher’ when I first started that job. Instead I used to say ‘I work in a school’. It just didn’t feel right somehow.

What I’m doing now feels exactly right and is just what child/teenage Lisa would have dreamed of doing. If in doubt about what you want to do with your life, always ask what the child version of you loved to do. Your answer’s usually in there somewhere.

One whole year of enjoying my life in full colour. Here’s to many more. 🌈