Meet Kim Truong, L.ac.

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kim Truong, L.ac.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kim below.

Hi Kim, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

The lessons in having confidence and self esteem is a lifelong journey for all of us, I believe. It may change its complexion and outlook through age and experience, but it’s definitely a fluctuating ride with its ups and downs for most of us. It’s a learned concept we grow into and certainly not a part of the innate psyche we were born with. So we can actually look at it as a mental and even emotional exercise, and so a vital ingredient in our overall health. In some cultures, the idea of self esteem is not immersed within their societies nor even comprehended by its peoples. There are so many definitions and ways to look at our sense of self across the planet. So the interpretations and expressions are extremely personal and delightfully expansive.

When I first started school to learn Eastern Medicine and Acupuncture, it was considered quite rebellious to branch away from widely accepted conventional medicine. It was not a practice widely available nor accepted by the majority in the States at that time. Even in the broader field of medical science- acupuncture was often met with much curiosity but also great resistance for quite some time. But I knew in my heart of hearts what was right for me and for my purpose, and so I never wavered. We all have that source of confidence that comes from an internal knowing. A core sense of certainty that we believe in so strongly that it instills us with unbudgeable courage to stand firm in our path. That has been my pursuit in this medical venture filled with absolute faith, confidence, and joy. That confidence of knowing is something any of us can have.

Firstly, there needs to be a distinction between confidence and self-esteem. Confidence is a belief in one’s abilities. This is more often than not, in relation to other people- the comparisons to others as well as their responses to us. Whereas, self-esteem is a belief in one’s own value. It is something internal and very personal. In the end, they both are our own ultimate decisions.

Confidence and self-esteem are both rooted in perspective. It’s how we view ourselves- both within ourselves (self-esteem), and beyond ourselves through our interactions with the rest of the world (confidence). It is largely based on aspects that are ever changing, which means our confidence and self-esteem are susceptible to change through time. That is, if we let it.

Ask yourself, when do you feel most confident? Perhaps when you perform some act extraordinarily, such as acing a test, scoring high in athletics, creating great works, accomplishing what you feel trained or gifted to do, for example. So much of what makes us feel good is the response of others and the recognition we receive from said accomplishments. But that level of confidence, the kind that relies on external stimulation, can be quite unstable. There may be highs and lows, and we may wait to perceive responses from others to either feel good or bad. That is a more superficial confidence. It is fragile because we ultimately do not fully own it.

So how did I work on building my own confidence? It’s when I realized that true confidence is a balance between both getting the anticipated response from others, but mainly, that I myself have the unstoppable belief in myself and what I can do. It’s not about asking permission or approval to feel good, you just feel good. You allow yourself to operate within your own zone. You garner faith within yourself regardless of circumstances. Your primary audience is you and that is the final approval you need. That is how you own your own confidence.

Self-esteem can be affected by a myriad of influences. It usually starts from early childhood, from our earliest memories. Every input we get becomes our own thought and emotional processes. All of that culminates and translates into our innate sense of value. So often, we allow so many voices- voices that aren’t our own- to dictate our internal story. How we feel about ourselves, how we think of ourselves, how we value ourselves- these things need to become our own decisions. Having external interactions are excellent for gauging our own stances, capabilities and to have keener awareness. But we ultimately need to have our own loudest and most supportive voice.

Just like building confidence, how much importance do we allow external sources to carry? How much weight do we place on surrounding voices? There is something to be said about being an open-minded, teachable person- those are very good assets to have as part of our character and are quite important for life development. External sources, whoever or whatever they may be, are our greatest teachers. External factors help us recalibrate and more clearly define how we want our selves and our lives to be. However, when it comes down to the core act of placing inherent value and worth within ourselves- our self-esteem- what we must do is to give our own voice the biggest microphone. How we truly see ourselves is where our self-esteem is at.

How I have built my own self-esteem is firmly living true to the principles in which I believe in my core. To keep steering my life in the direction which I feel is most purposeful and fulfilling for myself and everyone I am involved with. When you remain true and unshakeable to your deepest core beliefs, your self esteem is rock solid. You become your own source of power. It’s about realizing our worth, not just within a finite existence, but how we comingle with others, what we offer to our communities, the energy we put out in the day to day. When we live for the betterment of not only our own lives but for all others as well, there is a resounding confidence and self esteem we carry that is at once powerful and peaceful.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Kim Truong, L.Ac. and I am the acupuncturist, herbalist, and owner of A New Day Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic in Houston, Texas, licensed with the Texas Medical Board since 2017.

My clinic offers the full scope of Eastern Medicine, and I specialize in neurological disorders, orthopedic pain management, pre- and post-op rehabilitation, and women’s health. I treat many patients who may have tried various other therapies but cannot find lasting relief. Conditions where indefinite medications or surgery are typically the only conventional remedies, and these patients want more effective as well as natural solutions. My treatment is able to facilitate relief and healing in these cases that are otherwise considered difficult to treat. I believe medicine should be free of addictions or side effects, and the goal should be to simultaneously restore and empower a person’s innate ability to heal. It means everything to me that I can offer people hope and confidence in their health and lives again. The heart of my mission is to change lives by optimizing each person’s health.

The term “acupuncture” is used very loosely and broadly these days. It is offered ubiquitously, but there should be more awareness of its differentiation. There is distinction in types of acupuncture that lies within diagnostics, technique and the outcome of care. I strongly urge patients to research and ask questions when finding the care that is most suitable to them.

I am licensed in Eastern medicine which means my approach to medicine is very holistic. Although I do offer relief of symptoms, but I also always aim to provide much more in terms of whole health. For example, when approaching issues of pain management, I don’t just follow fixed protocols for pain care, but I deeply examine and consider why your pain came to be. When illness is treated from the standpoint of root causes, the results are so much more curative and lasting. There is consideration of what other systemic factors could be contributing to your ailment- such as stress, hormonal changes, blood circulation, the nature of your tissues, structural issues, internal inflammation, dietary influences, neurological causes, environmental effects, etc. All of these facets are also considered in conjunction with your individual body constitution to arrive at a personal diagnosis and plan of care. Using the diagnostic lens of identifying the unique nature of each disease, healing becomes so much more thorough and personal.

With this type of medical approach, there is keen evaluation of a patient’s personal body constitution. For example, I may have 3 different patients who seek treatment for facial paralysis. They may all exhibit similar facial nerve pain and stiffness, and all have lost control of facial sensory and motor functions; however, all three patients may actually have different causes and diagnoses. Different causes means that although they seem to have the same disease, I will treat them differently and uniquely to what each person needs.
There may be many reasons for the same symptoms, and different symptoms for the same disease. The key is knowing how to observe, examine and treat it in a diagnostic way so that the patient is not only without symptoms, but is actually healing. That is vitally important to me.

So much of this medicine is not only about instant relief, but there is great consideration of how your health has arrived to where you are today. You are treated where you are at, and then the care includes preventative measures to maintain your good health for tomorrow.

It is a scientifically sound and also thoughtful medical process that greatly respects both the biology and the overall humanness of each person. This medicine I offer ensures the whole well-being of the patient well beyond the singular health issue they come with.

The very idea behind my clinic is that the healthcare I offer is so much more than just finding a quick fix for singular symptoms. What I offer is natural healthcare that restores and also strengthens your own biological functions in body-mind health, to help you feel better today and prepare you for better health tomorrow.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Such an intriguing topic! I am always fascinated by discussions of human nature and how our aspects of humanity interact and intermingle with one another. Community is one of the many areas where one can apply the principles of yin and yang, and it’s one of the ways I can see how far reaching the core principles of Eastern medicine can apply to all of life.

We all have perceived assets and flaws. None of it is neither good or bad, really. They just all come together to create a very unique personality which makes all of us who we are. And from the general makeup of who we are, we end up finding professions that provide services which best speak to our natures. Essentially, we all find ways to offer up what we consider the best of us. It’s a beautiful thing, for sure.

For myself personally, there are some values that I cherish in particular and I will discuss how they came to be and how one can recognize the shared assets:

Empathy
For me, having an empathetic nature is a trait inherent in my personality. I tend to be aware of other people’s nuanced responses to get a sense of what the other person may feel. It helps me to easily be a caring person, because I get a sense of what the other person may need, like or dislike, and generally perceive.
It is a trait I am happy to have, especially seeing how well it has served me professionally as well. Working in healthcare, having empathy can be a great asset for the patient. It continues to help me care for others, but also understand how the patient responds to care. I get a better sense of what makes a patient comfortable, what isn’t right, and what helps each person heal.

Solution finder
Something I enjoy is finding solutions and remedies to problems. The characteristic is commonly described as being a problem solver, but oftentimes there’s not even an actual problem per se. The focus is on creating optimized outcomes for every scenario. In other words, finding the best settings for the situation before me. So similar to solving a puzzle, my mind tends to find the next piece and the next that will lead up to the ultimate ideal state. It’s fun and natural to me. In clinic, I meet patients who want help finding solutions. That is something I can happily and naturally help with.

Creativity
In life, it’s rare that things are overly simple and clear cut. We can plan all we want, but we also have to be ready for life to happen and roll its own way naturally. I’ve always been highly creative. It is a world that lives within and yet opens up new visions in reality as well. Creativity can be a fusion of knowledge and imagination, a way of keeping the heart and mind open and flexible.

The human being can be a complex, extraordinary, and sometimes unpredictable creation. A person’s health and biological response will often not be textbook. So working in healthcare, it takes flexibility and creativity to know how to think ahead into alternative plans and ideas and solutions when needed. In terms of being creative in addition to the trait of being a solution finder, it really helps my knack for bringing my best to the clinical practice. I am able to utilize my training and knowledge combined with my personality to give my best by offering creative solutions for empathetic healthcare.

If I were to give advice on how to hone these characteristics, I would suggest making a practice of putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. Think of how they feel and what they truly need. With that level of empathy, you enhance your insight into coming up with the right unique solutions. In that way, you will be able to offer individualistic service that is unique for each person. It’s been a vital recipe in how I operate in my medical care to help people to the best of my abilities.

Combining aspects of empathy, creativity and being solution-oriented, you continually learn, grow, and evolve for the better, so then you and everyone around you wins and life is generally all the better for it.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

We have our plans but of course life naturally brings with it constant ups and downs. Life has its bounty of gifts but it will also present obstacles for anyone or anything, so it is all about how one gains strength through stress, and at the end of every detour, to find one’s way back to the brightly lit path.
By extension, business can also be in constant flux, which really is just the nature and ride of life. As an entrepreneur, starting out can always feel like a lot to deal with. That’s just the nature of setting up any large project. The silver lining is that running a business provides such fertile ground for self-discovery and growth in the most amusing, grueling, eye-opening, revelatory, and ultimately satisfying way. It is often said that our toughest lessons are also our greatest teachers. And running a practice in healthcare has been such a wonderful teacher for me.

I find that personal change and growth is perpetual and ongoing. It’s just a matter of making sure you are making positive progress in the direction that you wish, and I definitely feel like I have. It’s about focusing on how you want to grow, and then you will find that the earned characteristic will continue to serve you today and moving forward.

The truth is, running and maintaining a business as well as keeping one’s profession as sharp as possible can feel rather overwhelming from time to time. It is a huge responsibility to manage people’s health, and can easily turn into this monster of worry that hangs on your mind if you allow it. The key is IF you allow it. So it’s truly a balancing act of fine-tuning the assets we recognize in ourselves, and then acknowledging areas where we need to keep learning and growing. That assures that despite hardships, you get up again and have the fortitude to keep going to where you want to get to.

So a particular aspect that has been vital for me is learning to let go. What that means is in any long term scenario, we tend to set goals. That applies to any area of life- from work, to relationships, to spirituality. We know what we want and we generally know how we want to get there. But it’s when it transforms into incessant desire that it can become an unhealthy attachment.
How does it get unhealthy? When we constantly stress and worry over it day and night. When we strain our hearts and minds and compromise our health for it. When it becomes a need that we believe we can’t do without. When we become fixated on the ideas of our maps and timelines, thus, not allowing life to flow. In Eastern medicine, there are principles around the five elements. The aspect of letting go has to do with metal, which is correlated with the lung organs. So the act of releasing is about finding space and our breath in all matters, to allow ourselves oxygen, weightlessness, and the freedom all of that entails.

Having intention and even ambition can be wonderful traits. It’s good to have a clear vision which becomes our guiding light. But life doesn’t always follow our plans. The movement of life is free and may fluctuate as much as ocean waves. There’s a freedom to it that can be greatly appreciated. There is an element of mystery to life, an adventure we’ve yet to explore day by day. We can have general plans but should also remember to find the fun in discovering what is around every corner.

Life is meant to be an escapade, and I find that perspective exciting. Our goals are actually the trips we take to learn and grow and bloom within our lifetimes. Goals can be set, but expectations should be limber and free. This is where letting go comes in.

In my case, I have the goal of opening up a holistic clinic and I have spent many years training and studying for it. But who comes to see me, how my business grows, what I learn from it all, the lives in which I can help to heal- those are all pleasant surprises and gifts. That aspect of the unknown is something I now embrace and get excited by.

Letting go counters the obsessive need of control, and recalibrates the push and pull system between action and outcome. It loosens the grip on our mental and emotional demands of life, and allows life to just be. Having a healthy balance between intention and letting go is the greatest sense of freedom and the biggest breath of fresh air. We should all allow life to feel constantly renewed and adventurous. That way, it becomes the healthiest way to truly enjoy life and living, every second of every new day.

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