Gratitude Keeps the Career Passion Burning

By ASCP Staff

We have all experienced days when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and for no particular reason, we just feel cranky. The best way to change a grumpy mood fast is to start counting your blessings—you are part of an incredible industry. Gratitude is the fuel that will keep your passion of being an esthetician alive.

Here are six reasons to be grateful you chose a career in the skin care industry.

You help others. 

As an esthetician, you help your clients achieve amazing results with their skin. You help the teenage acne client start building self-esteem as the blemishes disappear. You help the mature client with sun damage diminish those fine lines and wrinkles. You help the new mother who has melasma feel beautiful again. Each client, each day, brings new opportunities to use your talent and skills. You’re never bored as no two days (or clients) are ever the same. You’re living your dream AND paying your bills. How sweet is that?

Opportunities abound.

There are limitless opportunities for estheticians. You can work in a medical spa, providing advanced skin care services. You can work for an international skin care company and travel the world as a product educator. You can create your own product line. You can be an esthetics instructor at a skin care school, or even own your own school. You can also own your own business within a salon suite, or own your spa, employing other beauty professionals. If you work independently, you can be your own boss, set your own hours, have a flexible schedule. You can have the unique opportunity to determine how much money you’ll make depending on how much you want to work. You will always be able to use your craft, no matter where you are. That’s not only job security—it’s FREEDOM!

It’s scientific. 

You were trained in the science of skin and its proper care. You received a comprehensive education of its anatomy and physiology. You learned about the structure and function of the skin and its important proteins so you could make better, more informed decisions on how to care for your clients’ skin. You were taught about different skin care conditions and the best method to treat them to achieve desired results. You learned how to conduct a thorough skin analysis to form a treatment plan for your clients. Whether you consciously know it, you use scientific knowledge every day in your skin care business. 

You get constant inspiration.

Because the skin care industry involves people, it's an industry that is always evolving, changing, and growing. To keep inspired, attend a class, event, or trade show. Learn about new products, new ingredients, and new techniques. Network with other skin care professionals to share their experiences and expand your personal growth. There is never time to become bored or stagnant because there is always something new to learn or try!

You have purpose.

It’s so sad when someone has to go to work each day doing something they are not passionate about, or feel doesn’t really matter in the scheme of things. What are most people looking to find through their job? What do people value most in a career? Purpose. We all want to feel we are making a difference in some way. There are very few professions that can offer a fulfilling, meaningful purpose multiple times, every single day. Estheticians are fortunate enough to have physical confirmation of the difference they’re making in their clients’ lives. You can see the difference with every service you provide to regular clients. Your clients can see positive results, too, and are grateful to you. The positive impact you have on your clients and the love you spread should brighten your day and dispel even the crankiest of moods!

You love your people.

This brings us to what is probably the most important reason you love being an esthetician: your clients! The relationships you have with your clients fill a special place in your heart. Each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. The connections you’ve been able to form with these amazing humans should evoke over-the-top gratitude for the career in skin care you’ve chosen. You've watched relationships evolve from first dates to having their first child. You've seen shy, young pre-teens grow into stunning, confident adults. You've been a safe place to cry when they’re experiencing heartache. You've shared tears of laughter with them. All of these moments are the reasons why you love what you do.

Yes, we love our people, but that doesn’t just mean clients. It means other esties, too. We’re talking mentors, coworkers, and employers who become family. We are kindred spirits brought together by our passion for the amazing skin care industry.

We have so much to be grateful for. Sure, there are always some areas of our esthetics career we may wish were different. But if you focus your mind on all you have in this profession to be grateful for, your passion will never simmer. 

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."—Jawaharlal Nehru