As a clinical aromatherapist, I have always been passionate about helping my clients achieve their best health and well-being. However, managing my health and maintaining a successful business is often challenging. It wasn’t until I began to nurture the four brains —the Head, Heart, Gut, and Body brains—that I genuinely found the areas that needed to be nurtured to find a healthier balance.
Head Brain: Memory and Learning
Realising that the head brain is where I store everything I have learnt about my craft and all my life experiences was transformative. Sometimes, my head and brain fail me, especially with the peri-menopausal memory fog or tiredness. Still, it also serves as a safety net for my blending and delivering therapy treatments. My gut-brain will sometimes guide my head-brain, but my head-brain keeps all my learning at the forefront and shapes the delivery of what my gut-brain is saying. Sometimes, to keep me safe, my head-brain whispers that I need to know more and do more to be everything I need to be in business. It can sometimes keep me small or make me decline opportunities. Understanding this voice and knowing it’s trying to keep me safe has helped me take necessary risks and embrace the adventure that business requires.
Heart Brain: Feeling and Connecting
One of the most significant changes I made was tuning into my heart brain. I realised that my emotional connection with clients was a strength and a potential source of burnout. I learnt to set healthy emotional boundaries, ensuring I remained empathetic without engaging in their pain. This balance helped me build more profound, meaningful relationships with my clients, enhancing their experience and my joy in seeing their progress.
Gut Brain: Intuition and Instinct
Trusting my gut brain has transformed my business. I used to second-guess my decisions and lean into my head-brain to question where my gut-brain was leading me. By honing my intuition, I have become a better therapist and a confident formulator of aromatherapy products. Whether selecting the right essential oils for a client or making strategic business decisions, my gut-brain often guides me in the right direction. This shift allowed me to respond to clients’ needs more effectively and seize opportunities aligned with my practice vision.
Body Brain: Delivery and Expression
Understanding the importance of my body’s brain has been crucial in maintaining my energy levels and overall health. I started listening to my body’s communication, changing my work hours, shaping my client list, and diarising events according to the energy levels of my monthly cycle. I paid more attention to my nutrition, hydration, and sleep, recognising how these factors impacted my performance. Additionally, I learnt to be fully present during client sessions, using my body language to communicate effectively and create a welcoming environment.
Integrating the Four Brains
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is knowing when my head’s brain interferes with client interactions. Sometimes, I find myself trying to match a client’s experience to my own, letting my analytical mind take over. By being mindful of this tendency, I can refocus on the client’s unique needs and experiences, ensuring that their treatment remains personalised and effective.
Nurturing the four brains has not only helped me stay healthier in business but also allowed me to work more intuitively and authentically. My practice has flourished as I have become more balanced and attuned to my clients and myself. This journey has been enriching, and I am excited to continue growing and evolving with these insights.
If you want to transform your therapy practice and achieve a more balanced, intuitive approach, I recommend 
exploring the four brains of the business. It has been a game-changer for me and can be for you, too.
Nichola, clinical hypnotherapist and life and business coach will lead a masterclass with me on June 15th, 2024, from 10 am to 12.30 pm on “The Four Brains of Business.” We would love for you to attend. Manuals, meditations, and recordings will be available to all participants.