By Crystal Kordalchuk
The very definition of an entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards. Being an entrepreneur is commonly seen as being an innovator, a source of new ideas, goods, services, and a business or procedures.
From my experience, it affords a life of ups and downs, thrills, and heartbreaks. It’s about failure and courage and vulnerability and innovation and resiliency. Yes… it’s all of those, all the time.
Starting your own business is like growing a garden. You must first invest your time and money. Then, you will tend to your business like you would your garden. After that, you have to review, adjust, and change continually. However, your hard work and patience are worthwhile when everything finally blossoms.
As entrepreneurs, we sometimes take on a little more than we can handle, hoping we will learn how to handle things quickly. We are trailblazers. We prepare the trail, so our clients and customers don’t have to cut through the brush themselves. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows!
Sometimes, do you feel you’re losing your mind due to stress? With clients or customers pushing your pain point buttons or even wonky tech (or team) issues, do you wonder how to control your emotions and mental health as a business owner? And have you ever wondered how many emotions a human can experience?
Well, amazingly, it’s about 34,000!
No wonder we sometimes experience issues recognizing and articulating them, especially under all the pain point pressures created by owning a business!
We’re all human. Emotions are natural and can unavoidably come up during the day-to-day. Yet being able to better control our mental health is all about having the right mindset.
I genuinely believe that the first step to making better choices is to understand your mental health, which helps determine where your decisions are coming from. Take a deep breath when you’re overwhelmed or annoyed. Assess the situation. Pivot as needed and rinse, then repeat. Your success is not tied to your feelings. Your success is based upon facts and your strategy to implement them.
It can be as easy as putting yourself first for a few moments every day. Take a break, go for a ten-minute walk around the block. Sit under a tree for five minutes. Try a few yoga stretches to loosen up and just be. And breathe. Deep, cleansing breaths that fill you up to the point of feeling fabulous.
What Do You Wake Up Thinking About Each Morning?
I invite you to do a 7-day inventory of the first thoughts you are aware of before your feet touch the floor. First thoughts are important because they set the tone for the rest of what should be your gloriously wonderful day. Checking what’s on your mind could be the edge you seek for that particular area of your life (business or other). And at the very least, you’ve found a moment to put yourself first by checking in to see how you’re doing.
“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.”
– Jamais Cascio, Author and Futurist
Resilience is the virtue that enables people to move through hardship and become better. Yes, of course, you’re going to make mistakes, and you’re going to be told by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people that what you’re trying to accomplish can’t be done. Still, it’s our “crazy” strategies and tactics that are going to change the world.
Resilience is crucial if you want your business to grow and last. And like any shift in thinking, it doesn’t happen overnight. So be practical with the steps you choose to build resilience. Become better equipped to handle issues, demanding clients, team members and setbacks as you grow your business, especially in the start-up phases.
Fear holds us back. Dark cloudy days and setbacks are unavoidable and undoubtedly not pleasant. However, they also have the potential to be your engine of personal growth. Also, in our daily lives beyond business hours. The difference between success and failure comes down to who’s willing to stick it out in the most ingenious ways possible. And that’s resilience.
Reflecting on Emotions Since the Pandemic
For my virtual team and I, one thing has become clear: COVID-19 continues to affect nearly every facet of our daily lives. Entrepreneurs everywhere continue to face some of the most challenging days and decisions. And sadly, most of the day-to-day now stems from a pure sense of survival. Combining the raw emotions associated with ever-changing pandemic restrictions, inflation, and staffing, trying to keep our mental health and well-being a top-notch priority is challenging. Do we possibly let team members or employees go, or worse yet – close our doors? After two years plus of trying to figure out a safe and secure way to provide for one’s family, many entrepreneurs are making emotional decisions purely out of desperation instead of logic. And unfortunately, some are being forced to do it when stressors are higher than ever, exhaustion seems never-ending, and when it could all hurt the most.
If any of this, is you – it’s us too, but one thing is for sure. We’re in this together – we feel for you. And we hope you’re making the best decisions right now and for your future.
See yourself as a fighter. Go with the gifts that are yours. Trust your gut because it’s always right! Take time to reboot. Be gracious about your losses. Learn as you go. Don’t give up. Remember why you’re doing this worthy work because who better to take it on than you. And believe in yourself because then others will believe in you too! Stay healthy and remember to rest, relax, and take time to rejuvenate each day. You’re worth it.
#MentalHealthMatters
With all the Virtual Love in the World,
Crystal
Founder and CEO of Virtually Untangled
Crystal Kordalchuk is a Zen master of organization and processes. She excels at helping others become organized by providing her clients with tools to run their businesses smoothly. Crystal takes care of the details behind the scenes, including graphic and website design, social media execution all complemented by various skills to become generally untangled. Wellness Travel BC is grateful for her continued support during an exciting yet unnerving year coming out of the pandemic.
https://virtuallyuntangled.com/