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I’m an entrepreneur. For many years, my sense of self-worth and success were interwoven and in direct correlation with the success of my business. I felt stuck and uninspired and my business reflected that until I made a change that represented a completely new beginning and a new future.
Here’s the story.
I started my business in New York City almost 10 years ago. As my business grew, I felt as if I had no choice but to put my business and the needs of my clients before my own personal needs. The needs of my business and clients felt like my needs, they felt personal and in direct correlation to my earnings. As a result, my physical, spiritual, and mental needs were put on the back burner causing my well-being to suffer.
I felt stuck and uninspired, and my business reflected that. We lost several clients, my revenue plateaued, and we weren’t evolving with a rapidly changing competitive landscape. As much as I wanted to make a change, I lacked the mental space and clarity to do so. I felt like the proverbial hamster on a wheel and was exhausted. I didn’t see how to make my way out.
The truth is that within that sphere of operation, there was no way out. I had to make a radical change and I racked my brain for a way to start prioritizing my well-being.
I would plan to go for a run but would do so only sporadically.
I would plan to sleep seven to eight hours but would sleep only five to six hours a night.
I would plan to meditate and set my alarm to remind me to do so but would regularly ignore it.
I was struggling and I couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong. One day I had an epiphany — I hadn’t made the conscious choice to put my physical, spiritual, and mental well-being first.
I was aware that I needed to put my needs first, so I made plans to go for a run every other day, meditate daily, and sleep seven to eight hours, but I hadn’t made the conscious choice to actually do so.
Once I made the conscious choice and committed to it, everything changed.
It was like a light switch turned on and I could see everything more clearly. I made some radical changes in myself, my life, and my business that stemmed from remarkably simple and conscious choices to make immediate changes.
Those choices eventually led me to found The Wellpreneur Life, my wellness coaching business for women entrepreneurs. This new business was a complete departure from my existing company but it also represented the future I wanted for myself and my life.
If you are feeling stuck and uninspired, here’s how you can start making some immediate changes to create a new future for yourself and your life.
1. Acknowledge that you are feeling stuck and uninspired.
This is the first step to making a change, but we often talk ourselves into living with and accepting feeling stuck and uninspired.
We rationalize our feelings by saying, maybe this is the way I’m supposed to feel. After all, there is nothing wrong. Maybe this is just what normal feels and looks like, right?
Here are a few questions to start to reveal if you are feeling stuck and uninspired:
Do you feel like you are moving forward and growing as a parent, partner, business owner, or person?
Are you excited about the projects you are working on?
Do you feel bored?
In what areas of your life do you feel stuck?
In what areas of your life do you feel uninspired?
Do you feel that you are in alignment with your purpose?
Are you on the right path? If not, what do you need to do to get on the right path?
Don’t judge your answers. Trust them, acknowledge them, and applaud yourself for doing the exercise.
2. Choose to make a change and commit.
This is the single most crucial step to changing your life — you have to consciously choose to change and commit to that choice.
Planning to make a change in your life is only one part of the formula. It’s like when you plan to go on a road trip. You plan your route, what stops you’re going to make, what you need to do to prepare, etc. But you aren’t actually on the road trip until you choose to fully commit by getting in your car and hitting the road.
As with any road trip, in life, you may encounter roadblocks, obstacles, and reasons to turn back. As you go forward and things come up, you may have to choose your commitment on a daily, hourly, or even moment-by-moment basis. Keep the reason for your journey in mind and consciously choose it again and again and again.
3. Start with something manageable.
Now that you have chosen to make a change and are ready to commit, where do you start?
You can start by looking at your life and thinking about where specifically you want to make a change. Choose to start with something manageable yet high impact that you know you can do, even if you think it will be hard.
Ask yourself, what change could I make today that is both manageable and high impact?
Make a plan to tackle it and then take action.
Being an entrepreneur is challenging. Your business can feel like your identity and its success and your success can seem inextricably intertwined, leaving you feeling stuck and uninspired. By acknowledging your feelings, choosing to commit, and taking manageable but high-impact action, you will be well on your way to a new beginning that will invigorate you and your entrepreneurial endeavors.
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Vickie Reine | Entrepreneur & Wellness Coach
I work with women entrepreneurs to create happier, healthier, & wealthier lives, starting today. Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube.com.
Follow The Wellpreneur Life on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube.com for living a happier, healthier, & wealthier life for entrepreneurs.