“I was physically feeling the disconnect between who I was being and who I could be. That gap was much more painful than the stomach ulcers, migraine headaches and panic attacks I was experiencing from the stress of my job.”
What do you do?
I’m an acupuncturist and owner of a Chinese Medicine clinic, Thrive Holistics. I use acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy to assist my patients in achieving health and wellness goals such as better sleep, fertility, weight loss, and more balanced emotions.
How did you get there?
The path to my current career was a winding one, that’s for sure! Growing up I had a strong desire to help others. I originally thought that I would be a human rights attorney or a teacher, and I pursued both career paths in college. I wound up graduating from college and beginning a career in finance. I chose the path mostly because I was good at it, and partly because there was a voice inside of me that said in order to “make it,” I needed a career that would allow me to be successful financially. I am the first-born of immigrant parents, and I felt pressure to do something “safe” and lucrative, even thought I knew it wasn’t my passion. This decision was actually the most dangerous one I could have made for my well-being. I was working 6 days a week, at least 12 hours a day, and I was exhausted - but not just from my workload. In retrospect, I realize that I was physically feeling the disconnect between who I was being and who I could be. That gap was much more painful than the stomach ulcers, migraine headaches and panic attacks I was experiencing from the stress of my job.
A friend suggested I try acupuncture to help with my stress. I didn’t know much about acupuncture, but decided to try it out. It was during those one hour sessions that I was truly alone with myself, without distractions, and I could think clearly about the path my life was on. I knew that my current career wasn’t what I was meant to do, and a year later I made the decision to quit my job in finance and try acupuncture school. I was hooked after the first class, and graduated four years later with a Master’s degree and a professional license. I set up my acupuncture clinic shortly thereafter.
Why do you like it?
I love being of service to my patients and assisting them live with decreased stress and pain and increased joy and purpose. Alternative medicine is growing more popular each day, and it’s exciting to be on the forefront of these changes in healthcare. Many of my patients come to acupuncture after having tried “everything”, and the conditions tend to be chronic and / or difficult to treat with Western medicine. I get so much gratification from seeing my patients have dramatic results after living with their conditions for so long. Some of my patients have been relieved of lifelong digestive problems, gotten pregnant after trying for years, and gotten a full night’s sleep after years of insomnia.
Every day as an acupuncturist is different for me, and I consider that to be a huge perk! My patients constantly come in with conditions that challenge me to think and get creative in order to develop a treatment plan that will work for each person’s individual goals and lifestyle. I’m always learning, and never bored.
I love that when I’m with my patients, I can feel that I’m working and living in my optimum state of creativity and passion. I feel most like myself when I’m doing my work, and that’s how I know I’m in the right profession!
Read more about Michelle’s Story
www.thriveholistics.com
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