How to Follow Your Passion - Dr. Kendra Wilbanks

After a decade of gathering women together for prayer, we are inspired to bring our words of encouragement to you. This is iRefresh. Welcome to iRefresh, where we empower ordinary women to do extraordinary things through the power of prayer and encouragement. I am so excited to welcome Dr. Kendra Wilbanks, who is my personal chiropractor. We discovered since you started, which had been seven years ago. So we would love to have a little fun Q&A even though I know her because she takes away my headaches and my pains and also my boys. So but let's have a couple fun questions and see what your answers would be. It's like your favorite dessert. Carrot cake. What's your favorite snack? Favorite snack, well I follow a ketogenic diet, so cheese. Ah, you're one of those. Okay, what emoji best describes you for your day to day? The emoji with the arm going like this. I haven't heard that one before, that's good. Okay, okay, cookies or cupcakes? Cupcakes. All right, Netflix or Hulu? Surprisingly, we don't have either. Oh, okay, so no TV? We have TV, just not Netflix or Hulu. Okay, text or FaceTime? Text. Okay, alright. I must convert you. Alright, okay, actually that's just a fun little thing we like to do, but I wanted to have you come and although you've got a lot of great things that you do as far as health, nutrition, and just overall body, but I would love to hear the story, since I was with you from the beginning, I would like you to share with our audience, like, what is it that in the beginning, what made you want, maybe you start to want to be a chiropractor, but then the life, the journey you've gone through with God helping you through all the different changes. And even she works with her husband. So I would love that you just kind of highlight some of the things that you've been going through. Sure. So I knew I wanted to be a chiropractor at a very young age. My mom took my sister and I to the chiropractor all the time for different aches and pains. We were basketball players. So we had lots of injuries. So I knew early on what I wanted to do. And so I kind of fast-tracked my way through college and started chiropractic school at the age of 19. I graduated when I was 22 years old. So very young, coming into a profession as a doctor. So very challenging. Did you finish high school earlier then? I did not. I just took college classes during my senior year. Yes. Wow. So you were just very ambitious to get going. Yes. Okay. Yeah, definitely. And I met my husband in chiropractic school. He was about six months ahead of me, a couple semesters. And he kind of had everything laid out. He knew he wanted to come back to Tulsa and I didn't really know what I wanted to do. So I followed him here. I guess. So you got married when you were finishing up school? We moved here and then got married about six months after that. Yeah, and then we were practicing for about two years, and then I just one day had this thought of I was ready to go out onto my own, or both of us. So we had been married for two years, so still newlyweds trying to venture out into starting a business together. So just very, very challenging at that time, trying to plan how we were going to do this, were we able to do this, and some challenges that came along with that as starting a business. So what was one of your biggest obstacles that you've encountered? Is it just all the things you have to buy for a business or the location? All of the above. Yeah, we didn't really have patients that were following. us from our clinic so we were basically starting from zero. Except for me. Yes. So lots of lessons learned about that part and then finding a space and getting all the equipment that we needed and the build out of our space and we did it fast we did it in three months and then we were we were open and ready to go. So once you were open, And you didn't have new clients. How did you survive opening up a business? Like, okay, what did you do? Yeah, so our biggest thing we did was we joined the Bixby Chamber and really just worked on getting our name out there. And what we did in our office, we held a grand opening where we invited all the people in our shopping center and then lots of chamber turnout from partners of theirs. And then it just kind of grew from there, just referrals. And that's really how we still grow. So what do you think as far as like working with your, like, because I've worked with my husband for a while and I'm like, there's those pros and cons of everything, like how do you handle it if you have a difference of opinion? Or is it one of those nice things where like, everything flows, you all get along, like how's that been? Yeah, so we, it was very stressful in the beginning. Okay. Lots of disagreements because we have different ideas and different ways that we think things should go. So if things got heated, we had disagreements, we would just kind of table those topics and come back to them when we kind of cooled down. One of the biggest things we did, and this is just recently, we hired a business coach who helps us not only with our business, but he He helps the disagreements between us and says, you know, you're not right, but you're not wrong. And then we kind of come to a middle ground and still work towards these goals, but we're working at them together and not my way or his way. Okay, so that's been really good for you. Yeah, it has. Good for business and good for marriage. Yes, definitely. So what do you think as far as in praying and believing God, like this was your big dream or was this more your husband's dream as far as how it was supposed to look? Like where did you feel like God was putting in your heart? Like where are you planning? What's your plans for the future? Okay, so. we had the dream of starting our own business. It just wasn't, um, right away. We wanted to wait five, six years to build up our clients and we could bring those patients with us. Um, so it happened a lot earlier than we had really planned on. Um, but we just felt that we were kind of stuck where we were and we needed to do something else. Um, and then just lots of prayer on how, how we were going to do that. So is that something like with, for, um, you and your husband is like, do you find that just praying and believing God, like when, like when, has there been days when you were first started, like no one's coming, like, Like, how do you handle the stress of that when you know you probably just paid for all this equipment? Like, what was going on in your mind? There were definitely days that we had no idea what we were going to do, except just pray, and we know that God will answer our prayers, and He did. I mean, patients would call, and our phones were ringing. So definitely, mostly just a lot of prayer. Yeah. So if you were to do it again, would you think that you would go back in time and like, okay, we would be a little bit more methodical or we'd go to a different location? Or do you feel like God put you like, this is like, yeah, we both felt good. Like this is where we're supposed to be at, even when it was hard? Yes, I think it would be the exact same if we were to go back and do it. We would pick the location where we are. That area of town is just really good for us. It's very busy. Yeah. So I think. Now, one thing I like when I go into your office is that you always have that worship music going on. Yes. So why did you choose that? Because some people, if they went into that atmosphere, they may kind of be like, that doesn't sound familiar. Has it created a dialogue for you or feedback? Yes. So we choose that type of music because it's relaxing. Our patients are laying there. they're in pain or in discomfort, so we need something that's calming so we can't have upbeat music, although we do change it up at times, but it always goes back to the worship music. Most people get up and they are thankful that we're playing that, and I think that's because we live in Oklahoma, so most people go to church around here and they hear those songs, and most people are like, who is singing that song? They're just thankful that we are playing it. So it sounds like it creates a little bit of a dialogue for you guys. Yes. So do you have an opportunity where you get to share and encourage people in their personal walk? Because obviously they're hurting. Is there something that you, or do you feel like you have that freedom to do that since it's your own practice? Yes, absolutely. There's been... a number of patients that I personally have prayed with in my room, whether it's with their symptoms that are going on or other things outside that can be affecting their health and their stress. So yes, definitely. So you see that that spirit, soul, and body, like they all work together to help. Yes. So when Daniel was in the room and he heard the sound of my neck adjustment, I think we all were like, I go, oh, that was a good one. Like that was a, so like, because my headache goes away. I have scoliosis, so it's been really key for me to constantly go on a regular basis. But I mean, it never fails, though, to have that adjustment. But I know I have to definitely feel calm because it's. It's a little nerve-wracking the way the sounds that come afterwards. So I appreciate the worship music just because it does set the atmosphere, which is helpful because of the way all of us come in. But yet the way we leave is so much happier. Yeah. So I love that. So what do you think that you can encourage other people as far as when they're coming in? Like, you know, because it's not just about the pain that they're going through in their body or whatever, but maybe even there might be something emotionally they might be going through. Do you feel like you have? it gives you an avenue to be able to encourage someone? Yes, definitely, and it depends on the situation. and what they're exactly going through, I will refer out for if they need other services that I can't necessarily provide. That's awesome. Yes. Yeah, so you can basically refer them to a counselor? Yes. Okay. That's great. You know, that's one of the things that I've learned as maybe as I get a little bit more mature in my age is just really realizing, though, that when one part of our body doesn't really seem out of whack, whether it's our physical, but there's sometimes it's emotional parts that play into what you're doing with them. I mean, have you seen that where as they start to feel better physically, does it help them maybe in their emotions? Yes, I mean, yeah, definitely, but there could still be outside stressors as well that we can't. You can't do that. Fix in our office, yeah. So you stay in your lane and you don't... I try to, yeah. Which is important. Yes. And I'm glad that though that you have found a way to be able to recommend them so that they can fully, spirit, soul, and body get healed up. Yes. Do you think about what it would be that you want them to feel better, you know, whether like we talked about emotionally or spiritually, do you feel like you have an opportunity to speak into their lives? Or do you get to know them long enough? It depends on the patient. I think if the patient is there and they want to open up and tell you other things, then the opportunity is there. But a lot of times people come in and they're there for one specific thing, which is to get out of pain. And so the opportunity isn't always, always there. I think that's one thing too, our fresh too, is what our heart is to not push ourselves on people, but be willing to really wait on the Lord. If there's an opportunity to encourage someone, is that we want to totally do that. And I think when we, the avenue's there, you know it, and God opens up the door for us to be an encouragement to people. And for us with I Refresh, it's all about praying and using God's Word to really encourage people to know that when something's not going right in us, whether it's a physical ailment or maybe it is a spiritual, that God knows what our needs are and He wants us to take care of them. I try to get rid of everything as possible distraction, which would be my tailbone hurts. And so I know that Kendra is going to be a real blessing to take care of some of that pain. So my focal point will be on other things other than it hurts to sit down. But I think that is a blessing I see that you have been. And one thing I don't know if you recognize too is when we go into your office is she's got joy on her. See, like she will come in and we can say whatever, and then she will always have laughter. Yes. And I don't know if you realize what a blessing that is. Because then, I mean, I do have silly boys, young men, but I mean she's very entertaining along with us, and we can say anything or do anything. And that part of that joy, I think it's such a contagious part that you actually help the people to take a positive attitude. And I don't know if you're always realizing what you're doing to them, but for me, I like coming out knowing I'm gonna feel better, not only just in the physical realm, but I'm gonna be happier because it is contagious. Yes. So I don't know if your husband does that, but I know for sure you bring that joy into your room and it's a real blessing. Well, thank you, yeah. We try to make it a good time in there, not always so serious. So that's great. So one of the things I wanted to encourage you is I would love for you guys just to take a visit. Also, there are websites called the Wilbanks Chiropractic dot com. Yes. You can find them on social media. And one of the things that you'll find, though, is it's not just about, you know, for me, I because of my chronic issues, I do get to see her a little bit more often than other people. But they do set a great atmosphere. They're helpful. They don't oversell themselves. I like that because there's not a pressure. But, you know, I mean, you're just willing to, if we can help, there's just that willingness. Right. Which is a real blessing. And so they're in the Bixby area. And so we want to encourage you even just to get to know them. So Brandon and Kendra at the Wilbanks Chiropractic.com. Thank you so much, Kendra, for coming. And obviously, I always like to see you. But this was a wonderful, a little bit different atmosphere for us just to be able to talk. Yeah. hear a bit from the story about how you started. So thank you very much. Thank you. And so we want you to subscribe to our podcast so you can hear more amazing stories about people who have been overcoming and pressing through in their goals in life. So be sure on our Facebook to like us and give us a word about what's been going on in your life. Until then, go change your world.