Are you the serious type? Do you constantly think about your chiropractic practice and ways to make it better? Do you stress about the details and can’t relax until they’re all in place?
If so, welcome to my world. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told to not take myself and life so serious. But what’s a melancholy suppose to do when he’s predisposed to seeing life more serious than jovial?
For example, in my household I’m the one that balances the check book. And, if the register doesn’t balance, I’ll go to the ends of the earth to find that last penny.
On the other hand, my wife is sanguine. She could care less about the missing penny. Matter of fact, she doesn’t even care about how much money is in the bank but rather if there’s enough checks in the checkbook. 
Just as I finished that last sentence, my wife called to ask if I’ve seen her debit card. If she’s lost this one, that’ll make her third within the last year. And she wonders why fewer hairs are attached to my scalp as time progresses!
But, being sanguine has its benefits. She can enter a room full of strangers and know each one of them by first name usually within 15 minutes. She’s what I call a social butterfly who just loves having fun. But when it comes down to more serious things of life, she typically disconnects.
However, she’s brought tremendous balance into my life. Without her I probably would’ve internally combusted years ago.
One of the things that’s helped strengthen our marriage early in the game was a book she introduced me to by Florence Littaeur called Personality Plus
Now Tina knows me like the back of her hand. She uses that to her advantage to understand and appreciate who I am. She also uses it to shake up my world and help me realize why being serious isn’t always productive.
Now don’t misunderstand me — melancholies provide tremendous structure and order to society but their anal retentiveness can become a barrier to creative thought.
As chiropractors, we all know how important creativity is to every day business. But it can easily be stifled the more serious one becomes.
So, to overcome this barrier, chiropractors must learn how to schedule recreation and relaxation within their calendars. Whether you use the extremely efficient Franklin Covey approach or some other day planner strategy, fun should be a top priority to help keep the creative juices flowing.
Remember this principle, recreation provides one the ability to re-create. It’s that simple.
Here’s video footage of one of my most recent down times with family at Virginia Beach:
In closing, I wish each one of you a safe and relaxing 4th of July weekend. Forget about the office, forget about business, and just have fun with friends and family.
Question: Are you serious by nature? Do you tend to have paralysis by analysis? If so, how do you overcome these personality traits? What routine do you follow that’s been successful?
Let us know in the {comments} section below.
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About Dr. Patrick MacNamara
I’m always serious but no matter how much there is to do I always make time to shut down lock myself in my music room and listen to music.
I also make time to play with my 3 year old daughter everyday and anyone with children can tell you it hard to be too serious when you’re doing whatever they want to do.
And thanks for sharing the video of Madeline and Creed I can see that they’re keeping you from being too serious too!
Being a music lover myself, I’m known to do the very same thing. Music is such a great escape and a wonderful gift that soothes the soul.
And, yes, there’s never a dull moment when Madeline and Creed are around. They are amazing children and teach me something about life and parenting every single day.
Glad to see your comment! It’s been awhile but understand your busy schedule.
Been very busy thanks to you, blogging, social media, and of course all that I’ve learned since joining the AMC Family! And, loving every second of it! Have a Great Holiday Weekend Doc!
Great video and makes me wish next week would get here quicker so I can get on the beach for my vaca. Adorable children, love the way Madeline says “it’s cool”. They grow up too fast.
Thanks for the book recommendation, have to pick that up for the trip. Personally I’m really glad you’re melancholy, it means your seriously dedicated to helping your readers and that is a great gift.
Thank you, Cindi, for the kind words. My family is amazing, I’m a blessed man, and my passion to catalyze change for chiropractors is real. I’m thrilled that you’ve noticed. Enjoy your vacation!
Nice to know I’m not the only one! I was just talking to a friend about how I feel too uptight, which is not the way I used to be. In college I was always the fun guy, but then something happened…maybe it was having responsibility.
It’s now 6:30am on a Saturday and I’ve been up working on my practice for a couple hours, which I know is not good. The downside with internet marketing is that there is always something you can be doing. Before the internet you did your marketing and went home at the end of the day. Not much you could do beyond that point.
I’ve been working hard to compartmentalize my time and not let my work bleed over into my family time, but from this post you can see how that is going. I’ve also been trying to “sharpen the saw” to use Covey’s terms, but I’ve been having a hard time thinking of something I want to do. I will often times find myself saying “I need a hobby.” You wouldn’t think that it would be too hard to come up with something you enjoy outside of work.
About this time last year my wife and I declared that in 2010 we were going to be more fun and I find myself in the same place a year ago. Time is all we’ve got and there is no reason to be so serious all the time…easy to say, not so easy to practice.
You’re on the right track, Dr. Bingham. Matter of fact, I’d highly recommend that you go back through Covey’s material. A review of the Seven Habits are always powerful and stimulate change when applied consistently.
Two other programs I use at the end of each year is Hyrum Smith’s What Matters Most and Stephen Covey’s Focus: Achieving Your Highest Priorities.
Both have been instrumental in helping me stay focused on what truly matters in life. I hope this helps!
Thanks for joining in on the discussion!