Being an entrepreneur has its pluses and minuses and agreeably, this career path is not for everyone. Though there has been much hype about the creative business endeavor, the journey to business success is nothing short of an adventure. With twists and turns, highs and lows, there are pluses and minuses to having your own and doing things your way. And if that's not enough, during the process, there is much to be learned about your own mental health and mental fortitude. In the beginning, there is an excitement and an invigoration in the process of working on your own, setting your own schedule, running things your way. Waking up early, on purpose. Ready to concur the world and express your passion to everyone you encounter. Passion dripping from your lips. Ideas running through your mind at a million miles a minute. Enthusiasm spewing through your veins like a warm eternal caffeinated liquid gold. Thoughts are always on building, branding, succeeding. Planning and preparing for your envisioned success which all conspires to your very first sell. You are officially in business! Everything is going great and you have the feeling of being on top of the world. AND THEN.... You HIT A WALL. It all comes crashing down, as if the rug were just pulled from underneath you. Bills are coming due and you've had only one sale in one, two, three weeks/months...There seems to be no end (another sale) in sight. The light at the end of the tunnel seems so dim and soooo far away. You feel as if you are all alone in the dark and no one cares what you have to offer. Nothing is going according to plan and you're afraid that you have finally proven all the neh sayers right. "Who do you think you are?! You're crazy for thinking you can pull this off! You don't know the first thing about owning a business, being an entrepreneur, or running a company. You're just setting yourself up for failure. You may as well get a regular job like the rest of us...blah blah blah." This becomes the most challenging thing you've ever done and you can't seem to move further along in your business. YOU'VE FAILED. You couldn't meet your sales target for that month. You lose all creativity. All your ideas and insightful moments have seemed to disappeared. Ups and downs, highs and lows, wins and losses, week in and week out. Being in business for yourself is as much a practice in mental stamina as it is emotionally. Evaluate and then re-evaluate every step of the way, finding the techniques that work and developing new strategies to be successful in both business and in life. Developing strategies along the way to lead to successful outcomes are imperative to your future self and to your success. These feelings and sensations can boost or derail progress within your business as well as within your personal life. In this article, we will discuss how your mental health plays a role in your overall well-being as a business owner as well as in relationship with yourSELF. "You always pass failure on the way to success.” ~Mickey Rooney Mental Health and Entrepreneurship: As entrepreneurs, we are constantly stressed, mainly due to the created uncertainty we take on and must adjust to in the beginning stages of business. Uncertainty in your immediate financial future, uncertainty in the amount of time it takes in order for your company to succeed, uncertainty in the daily hustle and grind it takes in order to stay afloat. Always adjusting, tweaking, adapting to the economic climate you are in and creating for yourself. The best way to remain confident (besides fake it 'til you make it) physically, mentally, and emotionally is to dig deep for that internal strength and be a FIGHTER. Be A FIGHTER: What does it mean to be a FIGHTER? How can you grow stronger physically and mentally?! What are some of the ways to strengthen your mind when feeling low or in a slump? Be a F.I.G.H.T.E.R! F- Foresight: Prepare yourself financially and work towards mentally and emotionally rebounding from failures and setbacks. They are a part of the journey. I- I AM: Never stop believing in YOU! No failure should be taken as a marker for your abilities to accomplish anything or succeed. G-Grit: Actively work on your strengths. Energy flows where attention goes. H-Hope: Have business mentors, read books/successful stories on those who have not given up. Meet positive people. Invest in yourself and continue to learn and grow. Celebrate the small wins! (This is a great exercise in increasing hope and strengthening your mental well-being) T-Therapist: Find someone to support you, someone you can talk to when all seems hopeless. Write/Journal, join a group of small business owners/entrepreneurs. E-Emotional Support: A circle of friends to de-stress with. Always make time for friends and family, love, well-being, and self care! This makes you more efficient and less mentally vulnerable. R-Reinvent: If something isn't working, CHANGE IT! Your biggest asset is your mind. Every effort should go into strengthening it. “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” ~Zig Ziglar Finding the Balance: Learning how to BE in difficult situations and emotions is an essential key to mastering the mind. Seven strategies for optimizing psychological well-being in entrepreneurs has been identified by Megan Bruneau and is linked in the article below. 7 Strategies Every Entrepreneur Should Employ To Optimize Their Mental Health "Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way" Frank Sinatra In the end, in the words of Frank Sinatra "I DID IT MY WAY!" I hope these steps can help you find/maintain the courage to journey along your path and do things your way. However, if you feel that life has gotten you down and you are contemplating ending it (suicide) please seek help! For Immediate Help/If You Are in Crisis: Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential. If you are thinking about harming yourself or thinking about suicide: Tell someone who can help right away Call your licensed mental health professional if you are already working with one Call your doctor Go to the nearest hospital emergency department If a loved one is considering suicide: Do not leave him or her alone Try to get your loved one to seek immediate help from a doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room, or call 911 Remove access to firearms or other potential tools for suicide, including all medications.
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AuthorYoga Certified, C-PT, Holistic Chiropractor providing a path for peaceful healing. Archives
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