We recently connected with Arjan Khalsa and have shared our conversation below.
Arjan , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I feel like I’ve been given some kind of divine gift for resilience because honestly, I’ve had days where I didn’t know how I was going to keep moving forward and then miraculously I’m either just picked up or tools/people show up in my orbit that help pull me out of those hard times. Maybe others have the same thing?
For me, I feel like I was given a great role model in the form of my dad but both of my parents. My dad is almost overly positive but I know he’s had to overcome quite a bit in his life. That positive attitude has helped him navigate through many of the life challenges that he has faces. I know he passed a lot of what he learned on to me. I feel like that positivity infused into my being and has always given me what I need to pull myself up.
On top of that, I very intentionally choose what I let my mind absorb. I spend 90% of my attention on things that keep me inspired, motivated and excited to get me out of the bed in the morning. I feel like my resilience comes from finding the greatness in life, whether it’s with the people I have around me, a good Will Ferrell video to get me laughing, or a podcast that inspires me to do more.
This has been my focus for as long as I can remember. I don’t let too much negativity into or around my sphere because I know that will drag me into the depths of despair. This is one the biggest practices that keeps me resilient and strong.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic since 1999. I’ve been in Northern New Mexico, US for the lat 25 years, primarily practicing in Espanola, I’ve more recently moved to Albququeque, where I just started my own, by-myself clinic for the first time ever. While I’ve had incredible colleagues and mentors throughout the last 25 years, I’m beyond ecstatic to be spreading my wings and really moving into my dream practice.
While Chiropractic is my love, my passion and how I view the world, I’ve incorporated Craniosacral Therapy into my practice after having experienced its’ magic in 2001 while I was pregnant with my son.
At the time, I was experiencing such incredible hip pain and no Chirorpactic, massage, Acupuncture would touch it. I was on hands and knees at the end of every work day due to the pain. After some months of that experience, I saw a little piece of printer paper tacked up onto my massage therapist’s wall saying ‘Craniosacral Therapy’. And while I’d heard of it, I had no idea what it was or how it worked, but something just told me to try it out. We did it, and I got up off the table able to reach down to put my shoes on. Within a few days, I was able to start walking again. And then my labor with my son was only 4 hours, active labor, at my home. As soon as I was able, I had that massage therapist teach me everything she could to get me going. And of course, I ‘ve taken several more trainings. I’ve been hooked ever since.
In my private practice, I do whatever it takes to get people well. As a Chiropractor, I believe that every body has its’ own innate ability to heal itself, when the obstacles are removed. ‘Obstacles’ can manifest as shock, trauma, chemical trauma, physcial inuries, and spiritual confinement. I help identify where those might be and work with my patients to support their journey by opening up and removing those blocks so that they can heal, grow and see more clearly where their next step in life is.
I’m also a health coach, but I feel like I bring more to it than getting people to eat better food and exercise more. I have the ability to read blood work, imaging and doctors notes and to help guide people through the medical system. I find that most people don’t have access to healthcare that includes holistic and western medicine. I feel like one of my super powers is that I can speak and work in both worlds with compassion and openness.
Over the past few years, with the pandemic, I left a spiritual community, where I was teaching a lot of yoga, meditation and lifestyle. Since leaving, I’ve had to reinvent myself and not only use what I liked and have taken with me, but to also find ways to bring in all of the amazing tools and techniques that I’ve learned since. I’m currently starting to teach in person and online all of the old and new information I’ve got in my bag. I’m starting in November, this year, and I’m looking forward to find new and exciting ways to share all of the information rolling around in my head.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Resilience. I’ve gone through SO much, even though it probably doesn’t look like it on ‘the outside’. I don’t regret any of the hurt, betrayal or despair that I’ve experienced. I’ve had a lot of physical pain in my life, anxiety and insomnia, along with many other issues. I used to be so ashamed that I’m a healthcare professional with so many health issues. But ultimately, every single one of those experiences has helped me be a better healer. I can apply what I’ve learned either directly or indirectly to my patients and say with certaintly that they will get better but that it takes a lot of work, resilience, and persistence.
2. Looking for the best in people.
3. Curiosity
I feel like, with all of the above qualities, it makes life so much bigger, so much more fun and interesting. I hope that I can continue to keep an open heart and be curious about people’s stories. My dad taught me that everyone just wants to be understood. I’ve kept that in the fore-front of my life since I was 8. This has never let me down, and has created such a fun life for me…..finding magic in the most unexpected places. I make ‘friends’ everywhere I go and I see people light up when I take the time to ask them about the food they’re eating, how there day is going, or what their favorite hobbies outside of school/work are. People love to be seen and heard and I get so much joy taking a few minutes to connect with others and let them share their story.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coehlo. My all-time favorite book that I’ve been reading since I was in university. I’ll read this book, then gift it to someone that I think can benefit from its’ wisdom, and then, when the Universal timing is right, another ‘The Alchemist’ lands in my hands. I know it’s time for me to revisit the jewels again. I’m 50 now and I think I’ve been reading this book every 2-3 years since 18.
I love that the entire book is about listening to the Voice of the World. And that it’s unique to each of us individually. And that, even thought we may think we want/need something, the Voice is always guiding us and at any moment It could mean something completely different than what we thought, but that it’s always working for us.
I have to continuously remember that concept (maybe it’s time for me to read it again?) when life doesn’t cooperate the way I want it to!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drarjan.com
- Instagram: @drarjankhalsa
- Facebook: Dr. Arjan Khalsa
- Youtube: Dr. Arjan Khalsa
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