Studying

Studying is more than thumbing through boring dust covered books.  It is more than memorizing mind numbing methods, terms, and definitions.  Studying should be a celebration of our goals, a prayer to achieve our dreams, and a means to acquire the professional skills we need.

Unfortunately most of us are taught to absorb knowledge for the sake of taking tests.  Going to school should be an extraordinary adventure, one that explores our love for life and lore. As massage therapists we are explorers, servants, and guides.  To help others live their highest quality of life we must look out for our own.  We have to help our brothers and sisters discover the peace they need, help them live their highest quality of life, and lead them away from strife.

I believe it is the duty of experienced therapists to serve as guides.  We must cast a light of truth in the dark times and help those who are new.  Collectively we must cultivate a culture of hope, growth, and joy.  We need to teach, mentor, and show the way for others to live their best days as they navigate the wonderful journey of massage therapy.

One of the greatest ways we can inspire new students is to share our stories of success and hardship.  Our industry is often obfuscated behind the veil of sweet peace, because many wish to simply showcase the adventure as sunshine and lollipops. They refuse to reveal the truth by hiding every challenge behind a shroud, fearing that if they saw the true face of our industry they would run and hide from the calling that brought them to our trade.  Entering our industry is challenging, its learning curve is enormous, and it is easy to become discouraged when the image painted for us does not match the canvas of our reality.  This is why honesty is essential, when we prepare each student with the knowledge of truth they will have the skills to overcome their hardships and succeed.

The Personal Journey of Studying

The way we study is a personal journey.  It is more than a one size fits all approach to life.  We are unique creatures floating through the ether of existence searching for our own slice serenity.  I advocate for you to search for your own ways to eliminate the common woes associated with the tiresome and often boring seconds we feel while studying.

Here are some basic tips I have to offer:

• Tap into the power of your passion and use it to fuel your drive.
• Fantasize about achieving your destiny.
• Imagine who you want to become, shape yourself to encourage the transformation, and emerge as a butterfly of destiny.
• Develop a relationship with the acquisition of lore, fall in love with the adventure of exploring it, and reward yourself when you achieve your goals.
• As you study search for ways to strum your heart strings.  Learn how to play the magical melody of each moment, so each second becomes sacred. 
• Studying can be more than wasting away in isolation, it doesn’t need to be a journey spent in willful solitary confinement, it can be a social experience that replenishes your soul zones.  Massage is an adventure spent in the company of others, for others.  Slipping into a state of aloneness contradicts the essence of the experience by inflicting loneliness.  Embrace the energy of the day, by navigating the beautiful boldness of comradery and community.
• We must search for ways to be inspired by our inner spark.  With this light we can light up the dark and motivate our mind make the most of each moment.
• Search for ways to share your knowledge with others.  Live with passion and purpose, and help others explore the ideas you adore. 

Alternative Study Techniques

The Positive Space of our Canvas

I love studying and writing in bars and loud environments.  The ambient energy is powerful and unrelenting. With each breath of smoky light my vortices spin as they absorb the liquid love and loneliness of the air.  Though some may hear a cacophony of chattering voices, I hear an orchestra of heavenly hearts singing to the same tune.

For me the vibe is magnificent beyond imagination.  It is a maelstrom of entropy, society, and life.  As the winds of the storm blow, the ambient waves ebb and flow to the slow-moving essence of existence.  This abyss encourages my ardor to replenish and inspires my mind to realize life is a cocktail of delicious fruit squeezed into a sweet jar of juice.

I believe that studying should tie us to the delightful times of life.  We must be reminded that learning is a magical adventure, an exciting expedition, and the sum of every incredible ingredient.

Exploring Traditional Study Methods

Most study guides tell us to seek out places of peace, and though many times this may be true, it might not always be true for you. 

When feeling the energies of life I see cornucopia of color, form, and value.  It has negative and positive space and in many respects the essence of existence is a canvas of many marks.  It is more than a monochromatic image of light and dark, it is an illustration that captures the beauty and boldness of our humanity.

When I study I utilize my philosophy of Ambient Awareness and integrate the virtues of massage.  The one I focus on most is the virtue of creativity.  Its attributes help paint the way to witness the world through a lens of wonder and awe, and if we want to love the lore we absorb we must prize the ideas we want our mind to remember.

Negative Space of our Canvas

Peace and quiet is found within the negative space on our canvas.  It is the unpainted areas of peace, and ease. It gives our eyes a place to rest so we may return to the positive places that are busy and bold.  If the entire illustration is covered from corner-to-corner life becomes sickening and sad.

We often study in the negative space because it is free from distraction, it helps us focus on a singular idea.  However it often comes with a cost, sometimes studying in isolation away from the energy of others instills a stillness into our spirit.  This causes her to lose her drive, forget the luster of life, and lose sight of the vibrance and magic of the moment.  Eventually we lose our drive to learn, and our soul burns as he watches his wife yearn to taste the sweetness of the second.

Variety

When the positive and negative space are contrasted against each other it creates variety.  I believe variety is the cornerstone of an amazing massage, and the key to learning.  If we want to open the door to success, we must be willing to vary how our mind receives information.  Studying alone, in a peaceful place away from the hustle and bustle of the world can be a wonderful way to learn.  Sitting in an exciting environment that celebrates the vibrant light of life can be a rewarding way to absorb lore, but there are more ways we can collect the knowledge we seek.

If a quiet space, or a loud smoky bar is not your scene, perhaps a study session with other students may set your mind free. Study groups are a delightful way to increase our potential.  They help us connect with others by fulfilling our need to be within a community.  It grants us access to additional resources, a helping hand, and an outside approach to ideas we have not considered. Others can keep us on task, encourage us to push forward, and give us company.