For the first decade of my career, I was solely focused on building my business, Life in Bloom, to teach clients how to make food their medicine and heal holistically. This work fills me up in ways I cannot describe. But early on, I also realized it wasn’t enough to share education. We must also strive to help bridge the gaps in economic disparity, so people have more access to tools and life-saving resources.
As I realized this truth and continued to build my wellness hub, I developed a newfound passion for both business and finance. The healthier my business was, the more people I could reach and help. And the healthier I was, by the effect of the lifestyle changes I taught, the stronger my business was and the more content that could be created.
But along the road, stress knocked me off the path more than once. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work to be done, endless resources to create, and extra-curricular business activities I was missing out on, I lost focus of the “why” and fell victim to the same pitfalls that affect most business owners: overwork, exhaustion, and diminished inspiration.
In these states, I am anything but my best. I feel listless and alone, vulnerable, and sad. Unsure of my efforts and whether they are doing anything, I’ll second-guess the entire mission of simply living a life that helps others. Wrapped in fatigue and the mental game of life, my businesses suffer due to lack of attention. To no one’s surprise, I might then feel even worse for not publishing blogs, writing a new book, or creating video content to connect with subscribers.
Fortunately, these periods don’t last forever. When I decide to tune out, sleep, and heal, I come back to myself in all ways. Waking with energy in the morning, I’ll remember what it’s like to feel inspired to work on something, simply for the purpose of breathing life into it. And when I’m creating simply because I can (and because it feels good to create with the purpose of sharing it freely with others), I grow healthier.
After being knocked down by COVID, I’m coming back to myself again. Now, I can once again see how I did the opposite of what I coach clients to do (I’m human, too), and that is to build physical health first, or at least in combination with your desired business. Doing so is important because our businesses are extensions of us. They represent and showcase the best qualities of what we can offer the world and they subsequently struggle when we do, too.
Maintaining great physical health is more than exercising and eating healthy. It’s taking a realistic amount of time to work on projects and take breaks away from the computer. Sometimes, it’s spending more time in nature, drinking more water, journaling, doing yoga in between meetings, taking a nap, drawing, playing with your kids, traveling, and on and on and…
To be great CEOs and reputable entrepreneurs, we need to keep ourselves healthy so that our physical, mental, and emotional health doesn’t suffer. We are better when we are tended to and healthy. And of course, so are the businesses we create.
So, my advice to you is to give as much attention to your own well-being as that of the business you are building. Inspired to make this world a better place, don’t forget to keep your own life force humming as well as the lights in your new restaurant or office. If needed, slow down. Nothing worthwhile will come at the expense of your own wellbeing because it will never be as wondrous as when it was created while you were in the “Flow” and healthy.
I truly believe that our best work comes through us when we are feeling aligned, healthy, and calm. So, please keep this in mind the next time you feel run under or questioning your talents. Have you been taking enough time for you? Is it possible you need more love, support, and physical vitality before tackling that next big project? You’re worth it, so take the time to keep yourself in good health and financial wellness and business success will follow – I promise.
Warm regards,
Mandy Froelich
