Without an operating system (OS), your mobile phone is merely an expensive paperweight. The code that makes up its operating system allows your apps to receive input and display results. Even make calls!

Each of us has an OS. It's mostly directed by our nervous system. Some functions are hardwired, like respiration and digestion. Other functions are controlled by our desires, choices, habits and preferences. That's the more interesting part, since it varies so much from person to person.

Patient behaviors are directed by their OS. Like a computer, every decision and action, including their attention to their health and well-being, is directed by and remains congruent with their OS. Even if they're not conscious of the role it plays.

The more you're able to understand a patient's programming, the more effective you'll be at leading and inspiring them. And if you're particularly skillful (and lucky) may even be able to prompt a software upgrade.

Confronting Their Beliefs

The programming of your next new patient will likely consist of the prevailing medical mindset. Their OS will have been downloaded from the cultural notion of sick care—which you've seen many times before. Subroutines within this software package include waiting for obvious symptoms, treating the part not the whole, ignoring nutrition, germaphobia, imagining that a pill can reverse years of neglect, insurance will pay for everything and all the rest.

Will you lovingly and compassionately confront their belief system? Will you attempt to reprogram them by providing a different explanation for what they're experiencing? Or surrender, providing a low-tech, drug-free intervention for their malady?

The latter is easier and likely to produce appreciative fans and require the least amount of energy. The former will likely entail a constant uphill battle necessitating creativity, perseverance and integrity.

Are You Curious?

Oh good, you chose the hard, difficult path that means telling the truth, but respecting the patient's choice and honoring their free-will agency. Well done.

That means you probably have an interest in better understanding a patient's OS. That way you can best frame chiropractic and your recommendations. By doing so, you might increase the likelihood of the patient following through and getting optimal results.

This requires having a genuine curiosity about how each patient has chosen to balance the demands of daily living, with preventative strategies to enhance their well-being and longevity. That can range from having a career in health care like you, to those with little or no body awareness who chronically mistreat or abuse their earth suit—their soul package.

Curiosity is defined as a deep desire to know; to have an inquisitive nature.

If your motive is to control, manage or manipulate, then this curiosity becomes a technique or procedure. You'll want to check your heart. What's you're intent?

For a moment, consider the opposite of curiosity. At the low energy end of the spectrum is indifference. At the high end is judgment. Either extreme will reduce or minimize the possibilities of a relationship. But genuine curiosity tends to expand, magnify and increase the possibilities of cultivating a meaningful connection.

This means putting aside the tendency to attempt to change their beliefs and behaviors (programming) with your words. Granted, it's a hard habit to break. But consider this. Regardless of your position on abortion, vaccination, gun control or the death penalty, is there anything I could say or do to change your point of view?

I doubt it.

Same with a patient's views on the many facets of health and healing. The notion that the right words (outside-in) will prompt patients to modify their beliefs borders on delusion.

Aspects of a Patient's OS

In the same way your computer's OS controls the printer, screen, mouse and other components, a patient's OS consists of several modules:

Worldview – How do they see themselves in relation to their current health challenge? Do they think of themselves as a victim? The recipient of bad luck or bad genes? Or do they think they're merely feeling the effects of the aging process. Do they "own" their condition? How responsible to they feel for the symptoms they're experiencing? How prepared are they to assume responsibility for its resolution?

Values – How do they prioritize their health? What strategies do they use to prevent ill-health? How frequently do they floss their teeth? How often do they see a dentist? When it comes to attending to their health, how would they rank themselves on a scale from "Zero Interest" to "Health Nut"? What health habits do they employ that have a long term pay off, such as supplementation or exercise? What has their current circumstances prevented them from doing or enjoying? In other words, what do they value more than their health?

Body Awareness – What is their theory about the cause or mechanism of their current health issue? Do they see pain as bad, or a signal pointing to something else? Are they seeking relief or health care? A diet or a way of life? Can they detect subtle changes in their digestion? Sleep? Weight? Energy?

History – What else have they tried to resolve their current complaint? Why do they think those approaches have been ineffective? Why do they think chiropractic could help? Why have they chosen today as the day to pursue chiropractic? What have been the most significant physical, chemical or emotional stresses in their life?

Expectations – What do they think you'll be doing? How do they think chiropractic works? How long do they think it may take to see some progress? Are they willing to collaborate and be an active partner and do things between visits to support their care? Do they think you'll be permanently "fixing" them?

Many of these questions have never been contemplated by patients before. And their answers can even change during their care. But a frontal assault rarely works. Asking questions and prompting patients to become mindful of their underlying beliefs is far more promising than making declarations and assertions that often substitute for patient education.

Yet, without overextending the software metaphor, in the same way you can change certain aspects of your digital device in "settings," so too can patients. For example, they may seem to express interest in preventative strategies when initially seeking relief, but after achieving it, not so much. Remember, you're working with irrational humans, not a logical computer.

Planting Thot Seeds

What you're likely to find is that most patients have little interest in the chiropractic paradigm. That's okay. They still deserve chiropractic care even if they're not inclined to abandon their medical programming. Love them anyway.

However, one thing is for certain. As you uncover aspects of their OS, you're likely to get a deeper understanding of their preferences and decision-making process. This will equip you to be a better communicator. Plus, it will also serve to creatively plant some "thot seeds" that may or may not take root immediately but might in the future.

And one more thing. As you better understand and appreciate their programming, you're likely to reach the conclusion that there isn't much you can say or do to influence it. Naturally, you'll provide sufficient background to set appropriate expectations and reframe the meaning of their symptoms. But you'll lighten up. Your inclination to micro-manage them should lessen. As will getting patients to abandon a lifetime of symptom treating. As you become more understanding, stress is reduced, and patients sense your non-judgmental acceptance. Referrals improve. Reactivations increase.

Funny how the world changes when we change!