Today I was teaching a foundation course with Acquisiton Aesthetics. At the beginning of the day I decided to create a video of ‘a day of me as a trainer’. I set off on my journey in (after showering, feeding dogs and Hebe, dropping Hebe off and getting breakfast) and set up a timelapse of my journey of 20 minutes into Newcastle City Centre, to my own clinic and training space, AM Space.

I always find that when driving I am at my most mindful. I am able to reflect and project on the day to come. I love training on a foundation course, and I was thinking about my journey into aesthetics. 

Back when I was working in dentisty full time, the thought of driving in on a SATURDAY would have sent me spiralling. I would have been anxious, lonely and fearful of repeated IBS symptoms. However this didn’t *feel* like work. As I drive down the coast road, I am calm, excited and filled with a sense of making a difference. 

The reason I love training healthcare practitioners at the first step of their journey into aesthetics is I get to find out their motivations for stepping into a new and exciting field. 

The day begins. The beginning lecture is one that welcomes the group to the training, outlines objectives and introductions to myself the team and then the practitioners introduce themselves (generally everyone hates this part). It’s a facinating descovery into the current mindset of practitioners investing in a new career aesthetics.

Today’s practitioners really struck a chord with me, never before has a group been so honest and forthcoming with their reasoning. 

“I want to own my own business, but I’m scared of how to do it” : Surgical Nurse

“I want to leave the NHS, but I’m worried about how to balance that job and aesthetics” Paediatric Nurse

“I see this as my natural progression in my career, but I am terrified of the judgement from my collegues” Plastics Registrar

Then this got me thinking about the concept of want versus need. 

Need

As adults we need various things to sustain our lives. Income, family, friends, time. Need is an evolutionary fact to keep us safe, warm and fed. 

Often a career in healthcare is our need. A relatively reliable and routine income, sustainance for ourselves and our families. It is reasonably solid, with little to no change over time. It is familiar and generally easy to rely on. 

WANT

I think that the word ‘want’ is considered selfish. In my mind I hear a child saying ‘I want, I want, I want’. 

But, is it selfish. Does want actually motivate us? Can it challenge us into our desires? Can it envoke passion? 

Does want motivate?

So, is it want or need that motivates your own career choices?

Relating back to myself, sat in that anxious drive into work, with the sense of I NEEDED to go into the dental practice. I didn’t want to go to practice, I didn’t need to go through that anxiety.

What I wanted was to feed my soul, feed my passion and needed to be less anxious and burnt out.

These practitioners feel guilt for their choices. These choices are valid and a massive investment in themselves, a true act of self care.

You need joy, happiness and fulfilment

Whatever your wants or needs may be, listen in, and focus on you. It’s time to invest in you.