We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Hayes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Hayes below.
Dr. Hayes, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. At that age I had no idea what that meant, I was the only one in my family to be diagnosed with a thyroid condition. To say the least, it was a learning curve for all of us. As I got older, I researched tons of ways to support my thyroid and reduce symptoms that came long with the condition despite being on the medication. One symptom that I gained back quickly was my energy, so naturally I started running in my neighborhood. From there, I joined the cross-country team at my high school then went on to college to run at Pfeiffer University. Running allowed me to gain self-discipline in many ways.
Self-discipline for me is having control over your own thoughts and following through with your goals. Running was never an easy sport for me, I constantly had to put in hard work to get better. This taught me how to overcome the “I can’t” in my own head to “I can” if I just try. How I actively get through those thoughts are first to acknowledge that I’m having those thoughts. Then I proceed to tell myself that I can accomplish what I’m working towards. I also picture myself reaching my goals. I use this in all aspects of my life, especially my career. When I start to feel like I’m “losing control” I will go for a run. Often, I surprise myself by going farther or faster than I thought I would.
This is how I foster my self-discipline and remind myself that I can overcome any barrier if I put my mind to it. I practice this trait when it comes to eating healthy, working out and being the best chiropractor for my patients. I also want to be a good example for my patients. I want to guide them to have better self-discipline to take care of their own goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As a Chiropractor, I love that I can treat patients and help them feel their best naturally with adjustments. Our bodies are incredible, from fighting off infections, growing babies to digesting our food without us thinking twice about it. When I started seeing a chiropractor after being in a terrible car accident, I quickly realized chiropractic care was not just for back pain. As I learned more about how the nervous system functions and how it is the powerhouse of the body, I was fascinated. My chiropractor at the time could see the love I had for the profession and gave me the confidence I needed to begin my own journey as a chiropractor. After graduating from Logan University of Chiropractic I focused on perfecting my adjusting skills and gaining experience seeing a large variety of populations. I learned quickly that I absolutely love working with pregnancy and pediatric patients. I get most excited to treat babies, but I also love treating everyone in the family. Birth is a beautiful process, but it is taxing on mom and baby. Caring for them goes beyond aches and pain. For me, I want to optimize the mother’s body to prepare for birth as well as after birth. As for baby, there are lots of things to check once they are born. Frist, I want to check the nervous system and make sure they are reaching their milestones. Other things to check are latch for breastfeeding, torticollis, rigidity, constipation, gait, tantrums and so much more. It always humbles me when I have families that are unsure of all the things chiropractic care can do for them and their little ones. One thing that I love most about my job is that I not only get to help people, but I continue to learn and build on my strengths every day.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three of the most important qualities that were most impactful in my journey were to take opportunities that were out of my comfort zone, asking for help when I needed it, and trusting the progress along the way. There were so many times I can remember not wanting to follow through with big choices, but I knew afterwards I would be proud of the growth no matter the outcome. I would not be where I am today if I did not push myself to do things I feared. Having a support system made one of the biggest impacts through my journey becoming a chiropractor. Whether family or a great friend group it’s important to surround yourself with like-minded people. We are all human and we are not expected to know everything and asking for help shows that you are in a position of growth. I know this is easier said than done but truly trusting the process especially in the beginning is important. There will be times you might not see the outcome you were hoping for but with patience, it might be better than you hoped.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My biggest area of growth in the last 12 months is confidence. I always had trouble with self-doubt when I was younger. I have put in hard work for a long time to gain the confidence I have now. I plan to continue building my confidence by working on personal growth and always being open to try new things. This not only impacts my chiropractic skills but also my interpersonal skills. I pride myself on empathizing and connecting with people.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hometownchiropracticnc.com
- Instagram: hometown.chiropractic
- Facebook: Facebook.com/DrTaylorCoxdc
- Other: Linktr.ee/HometownChiroNC
Image Credits
Breanna Lusuriello : photography
