What if starting and growing your own business could feel like self-care?

Don't get me wrong, obviously running a business is going to be stressful at times. There's going to be a lot of struggle. However, what if it's possible to shift our perspective and mindset to a more positive outlook?

Instead of looking at something you need to do in your business as something that is really hard, scary, and feeling overwhelmed by it, what if we could feel that it is something that helps us grow? And instead of being afraid of that growth and change, we could embrace it like it's an exciting adventure or at least something that is welcomed into our lives.

That feels a lot easier said than done, but I do believe it’s possible. We just need to figure out how. So I’m going to brainstorm some ideas with an AI and share them with you below. 

I’d like you to comment with your thoughts. Let’s inspire each other!

(Future editing Amanda, popping back up here to let you know I realized we needed a workbook. Journaling is definitely going to help, so I’ve created one for us. You can access it in the Free Resource Library that I made after realizing this kind of thing might happen a lot with future blog posts as well, or just click the Google Doc link. Also, I think I’d like to share some of your free resources too. So please check that out and contact me if you have any freebies you think will fit in well. Oh and make sure to click that confirmation link in the email it sends you when you sign up. Otherwise you won’t get my emails with important info. I’m working hard on those.)

Self-Discovery and Business Alignment

Self-discovery is a never-ending process. It's quite fascinating how our brains grow and develop well into adulthood. We go through several changes that impact how we view the world and ourselves. I think I went through some big changes in my mid-twenties and now my mid-thirties. You?

The point is, passions and desires change as we grow, and hopefully, that growth never ends. However, we can develop a core understanding of who we are as a person. What drives you? What makes you want to do things, and what makes you pull away from things?

Aligning Your Business with Your True Self

Creating a business that relies on your ability to follow through requires you to know yourself on a deeper level than some find comfortable to explore. And in my experience, creating a business pushes those subconscious things to the surface quite frequently.

The fear of success can be equally as crippling as the fear of failure. The fear of being seen can be just as difficult to navigate as the fear of not being seen. And each of those fears impacts the way we show up in our business and in the way we choose to market ourselves.

We are invited to see, know, and accept or change our inner selves, and it's a beautiful struggle. It also hurts sometimes. I am confident when it comes to helping others manage and market their business. I'm confident when it comes to teaching others what I know. However, I'm absolutely terrified of marketing myself and have all kinds of hang-ups regarding creating content to put out on social media.

So whether you are just starting out with a business idea or are entrenched in a rut like me and trying to break the mold so your business can thrive, the answers you seek on how to align your business in a way that works with you instead of against you are often found in the quiet moments of self-exploration.

Reflection Questions for Alignment

I've been asking myself the hard questions, and I'd like to encourage you to do the same, but let's start with some easier questions first, though, yeah? Ease into things. I had to start somewhere, and years ago when I decided to become an entrepreneur, this is where I started.

Sometimes to move forward, you need to slow down. Reflect on questions like:

• What are my core values?
• What am I passionate about?
• What are my unique strengths and skills?

By aligning your business with your true self, you create a foundation that feels authentic and fulfilling. This alignment not only makes your business more sustainable but also ensures that it brings you joy and satisfaction.

Practical Steps:

• Personality Assessments: Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Enneagram can provide insights into your strengths and areas for growth.
• Journaling: Spend time writing about your interests, values, and what you’re passionate about. This can help you identify a business idea that truly resonates with you.
• Reflect on Past Experiences: Consider your past jobs, hobbies, and projects. What did you enjoy most? What were you naturally good at?

• Reflect on Your Passions and Strengths: Take time to understand what truly excites you and where your strengths lie.
• Identify Your Core Values: Knowing your core values can help you build a business that not only thrives but also feels meaningful and fulfilling.
• Personal Growth: View this journey as an opportunity for personal growth. Embrace the challenges as learning experiences that contribute to your development.

Access the Journaling Workbook in this Google Doc or access the Free Resource Library for all of my free workbooks in one place + join the free community.

Embrace a Growth Mindset

I think what holds us back sometimes is discomfort with growth. Growth equals change, and change can be scary, even when it's positive. We need to learn how to feel safe when stepping out of our comfort zone. For me that looks like figuring out where that line is drawn, holding on to something stable, and stepping a toe over the line. Easing into it like a cold pool. 

Finding Your Comfort Level with Change

I guess some of us could just take the leap. It usually ends up fine right? Shocking but exhilarating. I’ve done it before, but honestly it’s not something I’ve felt comfortable with for a long time.

I want the safety of the toe in first, HOWEVER, I’m learning that sometimes… I just need to walk in. Like… maybe not a jump, and maybe a hand to hold on to, but going too slowly gives me too much time to focus on fear. Like with this blog post. I’m really trying to embrace a growth mindset here, and just keep moving forward.

Letting Go of Fear

Learning to let go of that fear and embracing the spark of new growth is essential not only in business but in finding success in all areas of life.

Instead of letting panic or anxiety take over, cultivate a mindset of curiosity and desire. View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. This shift in perspective can transform stress into excitement and make the journey more enjoyable. 

Here are some questions to help you process things:

• How have you experienced this shift in mindset in your life already?
• What do you struggle with the most?
• What areas of growth do you see in yourself?
• What could make the adjustment smoother for you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. Your experiences could inspire others, so please share.

Practical Steps:

• Curiosity Over Fear: Instead of approaching your business with anxiety or panic, cultivate a sense of curiosity. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this experience?" and "How can I grow from this challenge?"
• Desire and Passion: Focus on the desire to create something meaningful rather than the fear of failure. Let your passion drive you forward.
• Mindful Exploration: Treat each step of your business journey as an exploration. Be open to new ideas and possibilities without the pressure of immediate big successes.
• Small Celebrations and Excitement: Set smaller, achievable tasks and celebrate your successes. Embrace your accomplishments with a reward system.

Access the Journaling Workbook in this Google Doc or access the Free Resource Library for all of my free workbooks in one place + join the free community.

Set Intentions, Not Just Goals

So now that we are thinking about growth, let's think about where we are going.

While setting goals is important, setting intentions can be even more powerful for some people. Goals are often focused on specific outcomes, whereas intentions emphasize the journey and the process.

Exploring Manifestation and Meditation

Intentions make me think of the practice of manifesting through meditation. I'm really not sure what I believe about manifesting, however I'm exploring the topic pretty deeply this year. A client of mine did a digital product series on self-care, manifestation, and money, and I am all in…when I can handle adding the lessons to my small plate anyway. It's really challenging me to look at my life differently and therefore is taking quite a while for me to work through it. If you’re curious, I have an affiliate link for you here.

Manifestation and meditation can help you align your intentions with your values and maintain motivation throughout the challenging path of building a business.

Aligning Intentions with Values

Figure out what goals/intentions really make you feel good, and keep your momentum going. For example, instead of only setting a goal to "make $10,000 in sales," set an intention to "connect with and help as many people as possible." Pick what you want to stay mindful of every time you sit down to work and use that as fuel for turning stress into excitement.

Navigating ADHD Challenges

This is an area that I really struggle with as someone with ADHD. Sometimes, no matter how much I want something, I literally don’t have the chemical levels needed in my brain to accomplish it. I’m exploring better ways to work around those blocks now. Perhaps a future blog post? Let me know in the comments if you’d be interested in that.

Practical Steps:

• Set Intentions: Start each day by setting positive intentions for your business. Focus on what you want to achieve and how you want to feel throughout the day.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This can help build momentum and keep you motivated.
• Stay Open-Minded: Be open to new ideas and opportunities. Curiosity can lead to innovative solutions and unexpected paths.

Manifestation Practices:

• Visualization: Spend a few minutes each day visualizing your intentions coming to fruition. Picture yourself achieving your desired outcomes and the positive impact it will have.
• Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to reinforce your intentions and belief in your abilities. For example, "I am capable of connecting with and helping many people through my business."

Meditation Practices:

• Morning Meditation: Start your day with a brief meditation to center yourself and set your intentions.
• Mindfulness Breaks: Take short mindfulness breaks throughout the day to stay present and focused on your intentions.
• Guided Meditations: Explore guided meditations specifically designed for manifestation and intention-setting.

By combining the power of intentions, manifestation, and meditation, we can create a holistic approach to building a successful and fulfilling online business that aligns with our values and nurtures our personal growth.

Access the Journaling Workbook in this Google Doc or access the Free Resource Library for all of my free workbooks in one place + join the free community.

Balance Work and Well-Being

A holistic approach to starting your online business means considering all aspects of your well-being. It's about more than just going to work and then coming home…mainly because you are likely working from home. Lol. Everything ends up running together and becoming chaotic. Balance and intentionality is SO important, and as a first-time mother, I'm learning that lesson in a hardcore way, unlike any of my previous experience.

Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout

We need boundaries to prevent burnout. We need to know when to step away from work and prioritize our well-being and ensure that we balance work with activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul. Even better if work nourishes us as well.

Pursuing a Business That Lights You Up

I think that the only way to ensure that work nourishes us is to pursue building a business that lights us up inside. We need to be able to get excited about what we are doing on a long-term basis and at least minimally satisfied with the daily grind.

Focusing on Strengths and Delegating Weaknesses

Choose to do things that you are good at; work to expand yourself and learn the things that intrigue you; and the things that need to be done that you are not good at can, and should be, delegated to someone else as soon as possible. I know firsthand that sometimes you just have to push through and figure it out yourself, but it's a top priority to set up the business in a way that lets me delegate as soon as it's possible.

Practical Steps:

Choose Tasks with Intention

• Align Tasks with Your Energy: Schedule high-focus tasks during your peak energy hours and save less demanding work for when you typically feel less energetic.
• Incorporate Passion Projects: Regularly include tasks that excite you and fuel your passion for your business.
• Practice Task Batching: Group similar tasks together to create a sense of flow and accomplishment.

Make Mindful Business Decisions

• Values-Based Decision Making: Ensure each business decision aligns with your personal values and long-term vision.
• Reflect on Impact: Before taking on new projects or clients, consider how they will affect your work-life balance and overall well-being.
• Regular Business Reviews: Schedule time to assess your business direction and make adjustments that support your personal growth and satisfaction.

Create a Nourishing Work Environment

• Personalize Your Workspace: Surround yourself with items that inspire and motivate you, like plants, artwork, or meaningful quotes.
• Implement Sensory Pleasures: Use essential oils, comfortable seating, or soft lighting to make your work area more inviting.
• Mindful Breaks: Incorporate short, rejuvenating breaks into your workday, such as a quick stretch, a moment of meditation, or a brief walk outside.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset

• Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge your daily accomplishments to boost motivation and self-esteem.
• Embrace Learning Opportunities: View challenges as chances to grow and develop new skills.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself when facing setbacks or difficulties, treating yourself as you would a good friend.

Integrate Personal Development into Work

• Professional Reading as Self-Care: Set aside time to read industry-related books or articles that inspire and educate you.
• Skill-Building as Self-Investment: Approach learning new business skills as a form of personal growth and self-improvement.
• Networking as Connection: Reframe networking activities as opportunities for meaningful connections and personal enrichment.

These are all strategies that I also need to work on incorporating into my life and business more effectively. What about you? Remember, when your business aligns with your personal needs and values, it becomes an extension of your self-care practice rather than a drain on your energy. I think we all need less drain on our energy.

ADHD + Women’s Health Perspective

ADHD’ers often get stuck in a loop of being hyper-focused on something and then burning out, making it difficult to continue for extended periods. This can also be influenced by women’s natural hormone cycles and even the moon cycles! Unlike males, we do not operate on a 24-hour cycle. When you add ADHD to the mix, things can start feeling a little chaotic.

However, if you break it down and look for the patterns, they are there. You just need to know what you’re looking for and how to work with those cycles instead of against them. This topic deserves a whole other blog post—maybe even a series or a course! So stay tuned or check around the site to see if we’ve posted anything new.

Call to Action

Starting and growing any business is going to feel stressful at times. I think the goal is to reduce that stress as much as possible and create a new mindset to approach your business decisions with. This is something that I am continually working on and sometimes really struggle with. Especially as a work-from-home mom. Boundaries are hard.

But by incorporating these self-care practices into your entrepreneurial journey, you can create a business that not only supports your financial goals but also nurtures your personal growth and well-being. Remember, starting an online business is an opportunity to create a life and career that aligns with your passions and values – embrace it as a form of self-care and watch your business thrive because you thrive. Or at least… that’s the goal isn’t it? 

If you get nothing else out of this blog post, choose just one thing; one small step towards taking care of yourself and your business. What do you choose?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. If you found this post helpful, don't forget to join our free community for more tips on blending entrepreneurship with personal well-being.