You will conquer the MBLEX as you have overcome all obstacles you have faced before. You are powerful, bold, and a force no one can ignore.
Many of us fret over the fear of something more than of the object itself. We have all fallen prey to anxiety over seemingly innocuous things. When I was a boy I remember being frozen in fear, unable to exit a room because a spider had built a web above the door. In my mind I had all these terrible scenarios of the spider biting me and causing one of my limbs to fall off. It was a silly assumption, and though absurd the anxiety of the situation incapacitated me. If I just took a second to take a deep breath, and really think about who the spider was, I am certain I would have concluded the situation wasn’t dangerous. That little creature just wanted to sit in its safe place waiting to collect a bug in its web, so it could have scrumptious meal. Why would it risk its life to drop down on top of me? Sure it might have accidently fallen on me, but even then, the likelihood it would have caused serious harm is low.
The MBLEX is a step we all must take as massage therapists. It is the daunting, yet innocuous threat at the top of our door frame. It is a beautiful first step that symbolizes our transition into the career of our dreams. Soon you will discover there is nothing to fret, because once you have passed it you will never have to take that pesky little test again.
Laura Allen is one of my favorite leaders of our industry and her words have influenced me throughout my career. She is wise and insightful, and truly a powerful guide. She takes complex ideas and boils them down into simple systems to help others apply them to life.
In her book Plain and Simple Guide to Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Examinations she tells us; “…ask yourself if the stressor is going to make a difference in your life a year from now. If it is, go ahead and get angry, scream, cry, wallow in self-pity, or do whatever you have to do to make yourself feel better about it. However, if the stressor is going to be over tomorrow or next week, why waste your adrenaline on it? Take a deep breath and let it go.”
In this context she is specifically talking about the MBLEX, but it is applicable to all things in life. Studying and practicing massage should never lead to a life of strife, this test should be a milestone of your incredible investment and passion. Rather than fighting to find peace, search inwardly, release the knots of your soul binding you up tight, and know that everything will be alright.
