The Future. . .And how to be at peace with it.
Over the past week, I have had several meetings, and in those meetings people always ask “Hey, what’s the future hold for break the cycle counselling?” The first time someone had asked me that, I just laughed and said “ Your guess is as good as mine.” but in every meeting, and every encounter that question kept popping up.
Back in June and July of this year (2024) I had a single paying client, and 2 clients whom wanted counselling, but were not covered by any insurance or other benefits, so I took them on free of charge, and back in June/July I wasn’t fully registered with my association, I was only in training or what they called a “Candidate” so I was charging quite a bit less then other therapists.
By the time August showed up I was in a bind, I was faced with the decision to either close my office and seek other employment until my counselling business picks up, at that point in time I reached out to my Band office in Burns Lake to see if there was anything I could do to help out, either with training or counselling my nation.
I had developed a rapport with the Director of Mental Health - Director Emma, we had gone back and forth on what my services could look like, I drove to Burns Lake Multiple times in the span of 3 weeks to iron out details and look and possible office spaces, I went to work on creating a 4-phase plan for developing the necessary support system for a more positive mental health and growth period for my nation.
3 weeks into August, I don’t hear anything back, the lines go quiet, no email responses, no call backs, I let it go, maybe something important came up for Emma, September 10th I hear back from someone on Social Media, Emma had left the band, all my work that I did was moot.
Why did I share that? well the lesson I got from it was planning doesn’t always work out, I planned the best 4-phase plan, this got my really disappointed, I was not sure what the future was holding for break the cycle counselling, by mid September, I had gotten a few more clients and each week seemed more inquiries about counselling.
It’s now December, I have half my week booked, and the other half is open, but I have no clue what will happen in January, and it took a while for me to be okay with that, with my limited experience in running a business, I had put so much into trying to save it from crashing the first year, I am exhausted.
So what’s the plans for Break the Cycle counselling? the honest answer is I would like to keep going, but how? I don’t have an answer for that yet, and I am at peace with that. I will keep my doors open, I have both free counselling spots open currently and my Wednesdays and Thursdays are for the most part fully booked.
I think my plan is to continue to do what I am doing, sometimes all we need to feel that peace is to be okay with the struggle, almost to see the struggle and say “okay, I got this” and just keep going. Remembering that I just have to focus on the next 5 minutes, then the Next, soon an hour will pass, then another hour, then the end of the day, then a start of the next day, so on and so forth, if you have a big list of things to do, break do the list, I know that that is what I do, looking at the future can be hard, but having set rules like I will focus on one task at a time, and utilizing the next 5 minutes I will start that task and possibly get it done.
Breathing helps as well, I have sat at my desk doing Box-breathing (Inhale for 3-5 seconds, holding for 3-5 seconds, exhaling for 3-5 seconds, holding for 3-5 seconds) it helps to regulate the inner core of self so that we are calmer moving forward. give yourself a break as well, I take breaks all the time, mini breaks to walk up and down my hallway, just a 45 second break to get the blood pumping again.
This is the last blog of 2024, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and a happy holidays, and a great new years. remember to breathe and to take things at a pace that works for you.
Happy Holidays
