Everyone is made up of energy, whether good or bad. Protecting your energy is essential to your mental and emotional health, especially when working as a stylist in the beauty world.
“Everything is energy, and that’s all there is to it.”
A famous quote by Albert Einstein reminds us that energy is all around us. If you want something to become your reality, you must match the frequency.
When it comes to being a hairstylist, make up artist or barber, protecting your energy is so important (this applies to pretty much any client-facing roles, too).
We are in the business to not only make people look good, but feel good, too.
In my experience, some days are emotionally heavier than others. It can be difficult not to take on the emotions of clients who may have lost a job, going through a split or facing any sort of hardship in their lives, especially those clients you’ve built a relationship with over the years.
It is just about impossible to be a positive source of energy to others if you’re in a negative space yourself. You cannot fill a cup if yours is empty.
In the Beauty Industry
Surrounded by such far fetched standards, the beauty industry- though encouraging empowerment and individuality- has not always been the Queen Bee of acceptance.
An industry that now promotes self love, acceptance and beauty in all forms, shapes, sizes and colors still has an underlying set of standards and ideals. For more on this, check out The Evolution of Beauty Standards.
Working with the Crown Chakra
As an extension of the nervous system, hair also acts as a protecting shield to the crown chakra- the energy center that controls connection with spirit. It acts as antennas, absorbing the energies that you encounter. This information is recorded within the body and used to predict outcomes of situations to activate the flight or fight response in the name of survival.
As an artist in the beauty industry, working with others means an exchange of energy is always occurring, and this can be either positive or negative. Especially for the barbers and hairstylists, being hands on with someone’s crown chakra, might be overwhelming to others. Especially someone who is not aware of others energies and how to protect themselves.
Every encounter, every emotion, every thought, and every experience- whether good or bad- is recorded into your hair strands in that present moment and stays there until permanently cut off.
Depending on where the client is at in their spiritual journey can affect what kind of emotions (energies in motion) that the client is holding onto. The transfer of energy, if not careful, can occur from their hands to your crown if not conscious. Nonetheless, the energy and emotions behind their words can impact your workday.
Taking on others emotions can leave you feeling burnt out and in a negative space, sometimes without you even realizing.
How to Protect Your Energy
Now, let’s help you protect your energy. There are a few things you can do. But first, you need to understand your own energy. How can you protect something if you’re not sure what exactly it’s about, and is it worth protecting?
Set Your Intentions
Set your intentions, objectives and goals for the day, week, month and year. Is it going to be a good day or will you sit in misery? Remember your ‘why’. This will be your motivation not only in your good moments, but the not so good ones, too.
Get Clear About Your Boundaries
Figure out your boundaries. Make sure you have a clear line and consistently stick to it. This could involve making sure your book aligns with your energy level. Work with clients you enjoy being with. Do not let any one treat you as a doormat.
Observe Other’s Energy
When it comes to protecting your energy, your can use others as a guide. The people you are surrounded by can actually tell you a lot about yourself. Like energy attracts like energy. Certain traits can also trigger different emotions within you.
Meditate
Spend at least 5-10 minutes of your day meditating. Use this time to feel your own energy. Observe your emotions, validate them and release what will not serve you. You can use this time to also visual your intentions for the day and even set small objectives.
Let It Go
Don’t bottle up emotions that you’re feeling. See it, feel it, release it- whether that’s by venting or writing it in your journal.
Gratitude and Forgiveness
No one is perfect. It can be hard to unlearn the constant anxieties and stress of living in the every day world. Forgive yourself if you notice you may react to certain situations that may not have been the best. Forgive yourself for feeling someone else’s emotions as your own, rather than simply understanding them.
Whether you had a good day or a bad day, find something to be thankful for. Say it out loud. ‘Thank you for…”. Whether it’s being able to pay the bills, being able to work in a field you love, or maybe the fact that all the traffic lights were green when you were driving to work.
Conclusion
Protecting your energy will ultimately help you to create clear boundaries and relieve yourself of extra stress and heavy emotions. The most important part is to ensure that the emotions you feel are yours and not those of your clients. This will prevent burnout and increase your quality of work and well being. How do you protect your energy in the industry?