Let's Talk About Mental Health
Let’s talk about mental health.
What happened in your body when you read those words? Did you roll your eyes? Or perhaps you let out a “YAAASSS GURRRLL, PREACH!!”
However you reacted, I hope you’ll keep reading for a while so I can share my own mental health journey with you. Why would I want to do such a thing? Because I think now more than ever before, mental health needs to be TALKED ABOUT OPENLY. When you are amidst your own mental health struggles it’s easy to feel like you are the only one who ever felt that way before, thus causing you to retreat even further into yourself. But that is simply not the case. If you are a human with emotions, it’s likely you’ve experienced ups and downs thus far.
So let’s talk about it!!
Two weeks ago I began seeing a therapist. This wasn’t my first time venturing into therapy. A few years ago, when the nonprofit I was co-founding was unraveling at the seams, a dear friendship was dissolving and Corona seemed to be getting more ugly every day, I sought out help from a Psychotherapist/Energy Healer. Her unique approach intrigued me probably because of my deep-rooted spiritual beliefs and understanding that trauma occurs on the somatic level and must therefore be healed there as well. We immediately hit it off and I felt safe and seen if only for an hour at a time every week. We would spend the first half of the session in a talk therapy-like format and she’d end the session working moving that energy through my body. I’d lay on a massage table and she’d apply pressure to certain organs while also asking me questions about my past. The instant relief I experienced was nothing short of a miracle. At the time I was so tightly wound up and riddled with anxiety that I was rarely able to find relief, not even in sleep (I wasn’t sleeping much.)
The peace I experienced after a session lasted a few hours but was worth every penny. The downside? Every session cost me a lot of pennies. At 80 euros a session I wasn’t able to justify continuing after a few weeks. The financial burden was a HUGE reason I hadn’t ever entered therapy before (I’m guessing it’s the same for a lot of folks.)
For those of you who don’t know, I live in Germany and qualify for public health insurance. That means I pay a fee every month and my access to doctors, checkups, and emergency rooms are all included. While there are problems with the system (like long wait times to see a specialist), I would never complain. There is an internal safety that results when you know you can go to the doctor, without incurring extra costs, when you are ill or experience an injury. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I don’t think I’ll ever like in the US permanently again. Mental health though is still highly stigmatized.
Unlike in the US, if you are diagnosed with a mental illness in Germany, that diagnosis can be used against you in the future should you ever want to enter certain professions such as politics, health professionals, or social workers. It can also prevent you from being insured with certain companies should you want to switch health insurance providers.
Yep - that means you have to think twice about using Public Health Insurance to pay for your therapy or mental health treatment. Instead, you should plan on paying it privately - that way there will be no public record. I am assuming that this potentiality prevents a lot of folks who need help from seeking help. It did not prevent me, however.
When my health insurance provider announced they’d be teaming up with MindDoc, an online platform that connects you to therapists virtually, I didn’t hesitate to sign up. First, though, I had to schedule an evaluation with a therapist in person to see if I would qualify for therapy. Silly me thought I would have to “pretend” to be crazy in order to get approved. Turns out, I was only in the office 5 minutes before tears started streaming down my face. You see, I was currently at a crossroads in my life, continuously debating whether or not I wanted children, where I wanted to live, what I wanted to be doing with my life, and what I wanted my future to look like. To be honest, I felt SO much relief just opening up in that office for the consultation. I walked out of there feeling lighter and empowered. There is something to be said about sharing such private information with a non-biased individual who makes an effort to “see” you.
And so, they approved me instantly. I had to wait another few months before I would be matched with an English-speaking therapist, however.
Two weeks into my therapy journey, and I must say - so far so good. My therapist is kind and a good listener. Her approach is cognitive-behavioral but we haven’t really gotten into any of that yet. I am still filling her in on my journey. I look forward to our meetings though because I feel like I have someone on my team who is going to help me organize my feelings instead of getting overwhelmed by them.
I am eternally grateful that my therapy is essentially free and recognize that this is a HUGE privilege that not everyone has access to. I also recognize that traditional modalities of therapy aren’t for everyone, especially those who have experienced intense traumas. Sometimes talk therapy can re-trigger the person as if they are experiencing the trauma firsthand. For that, you’d need someone who was trained in somatic healing as well. Still, though, I felt compelled to share my experience (and will continue to do so) in case anyone is on the fence or feels shameful about embarking on a mental health journey. I want to help end the stigma around asking for help!
And if you don’t click with your therapist or the modality, don’t give up. Keep searching. There is 100% someone out there who has gone through similar circumstances and has overcome them.
To close out, I wanted to share that I recently interviewed Howard Behar, the former president of Starbucks, for the Transparent Voices interview series I am organizing for a client. In the interview, I asked him to focus on one rock bottom moment in his career, in the hopes of inspiring other entrepreneurs to keep moving forward despite their struggles. Instead of him discussing a financial difficulty or conflict with a colleague, Howard mentioned mental health. I was shocked. In all the years, I’ve known him, I’ve never heard him open up about this topic. He went on to explain that when he retired from Starbucks, he went through a depressive period where he was even thinking about ending his life. Once he said those words, I got chills down my arms. This interview could help so many people who are struggling to get help. If a former top executive of one of the biggest corporations in the world can struggle with depression and anxiety - and seek out help, then anyone else in the world could too. Stay tuned for the interview, but until then know this, you are not alone. There are others currently struggling with the same issue you have as well as those who have gotten support and have overcome the struggle. ASK FOR HELP!
I’d love to hear about your mental health journey. What tools or modalities have helped you overcome the struggles of being human? Please share in the comments below!
My Favorite Conscious Business Tool: Yoga Nidra
In addition to sharing my content marketing and website knowledge on this blog, I'd like to start sharing some of the tools that have helped me become a more conscious business owner (and human). Why? Because they have been instrumental in helping me grow as a person and entrepreneur. They have helped me get out of my head and ground back down into my physical body so that I can actually take the necessary steps forward to actualize my dreams. My hope is that these tools help you do the same.
So in this blog post, I’ll be covering my absolute favorite tool to help ground and recalibrate (although be warned, I will likely say they are all my favorites :) )….I present to you YOGA NIDRA.
First off, I’ll do my best to explain WTH Yoga Nidra even is. Contrary to its name, Yoga Nidra has nothing to do with the yoga you're probably used to - there are no upward dogs required. Instead, all you have to do is lay down in bed, pull a blanket over you, and close your eyes. In short, Yoga Nidra is also sometimes referred to as a Yogic Sleep. It’s that blissful moment of time between wakefulness and sleep and is induced through a mix of body scan and breath awareness. Most Yoga Nidras also include visual and sensing components as well. The result is deep relaxation and rejuvenation of energy.
Some of the other benefits of Yoga Nidra include reduced stress or anxiety, better sleep, and improved mindfulness. You can read more benefits of this practice on the National Library of Medicine site here.
Personally, I use Yoga Nidra when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't turn off my racing thoughts. Yoga Nidra helps me glide back into slumberland. It's also a great tool to use when I didn't sleep well the night before and need a pick-me-up mid-day. Instead of reaching for a coffee or sweet treat, I give myself a 25-min of Yoga Nidra session. Afterward, I usually feel my energy double. Have I convinced you to try it out, yet?
Below are my favorite Yoga Nidras (and they can all be found on the Insight Timer app for free)…ENJOY!
Have you ever tried Yoga Nidra? What was your experience? I’d love to hear about it!
When A Natural Communicator Is Misunderstood
Lately, I’ve had some interpersonal conflicts that have left this self-proclaimed “natural communicator” walking around with a clenched jaw and a heavy chest.
I think it hits even harder when an over-thinker, over-feeler, and do-gooder like me, is misunderstood.
Me? Misunderstood? How is it possible? I literally thought about what I was going to say for an hour before we met.
One could argue that this misunderstanding (and the rest that followed) were one big illusion - I’d said what I’d said + reacted the way I did for a reason. What else is there to discuss?
But when feelings get hurt…
and bonds get broken…
and trust gets shattered… then there is actually a LOT to discuss. Especially if you want to salvage important relationships.
But this post is not about salvaging important relationships.
Or having tough conversations.
Or dealing with conflict.
It’s about showing yourself some compassion and letting shit roll off your back so it doesn’t consume your physical and mental wellbeing.
It didn’t really matter WHY the misunderstanding happened. Misunderstandings are the peanut butter to all your jelly friendships. What mattered is that I beat myself about the misunderstanding for weeks. Not intentionally, of course. Rationally I knew that things are always working out for me and that sometimes things, relationships, cycles have to come to an end in order for me to level up. But my physical body felt scared as hell.
I was fighting. And flighting. And freezing all at the same time. I was a wreck.
I had trouble falling asleep. If I did fall asleep at an appropriate time, I’d wake up in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep. My eyes felt heavy. My chest ached. I longed for clarity and a hug. Not to mention, none of my tools were working: meditation felt like torture, yoga only helped momentarily, and journaling riled me up.
Eventually, though, I had a thought that flipped my switch and gave me the time needed to detach myself from the anxious web I’d spun - I had acted with integrity, and that is enough.
“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.
”
I had no control over the way people perceived me. But the physical pain and exhaustion I was experiencing weren’t making things any better. The only thing that would make things better would be if I showed myself some compassion.
I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. I am misunderstood. And will likely keep being all those things until the day I kick the bucket for good. But if I acted with integrity, then there was no good reason to beat myself up about the way I’m perceived by others.
Easier said than done, I know. I don’t like disappointing people. I’ve never liked being in trouble or even doing things that might lead to trouble. For the most part, I keep to myself, a lone wolf who occasionally likes to laugh with her small group of tight-knit friends. I assume that people don’t want to hear the inner workings of my head or about my family or about my desires for life unless they ask. I listen more than I talk. I think a lot. A LOT.
So when a close friend or colleague misunderstands me - it cuts like a knife. But being understood isn’t the point of life. Being loving is.
If I continue to act with integrity, and show myself and others respect - then that’s all I can do.
Own your fuckups but go easy on yourself in the unfolding process. You couldn’t have known what you didn’t know. So let that shit go.
When People Don't Pay Up, Don't Be Bitter, Be Better
Last Sunday I hosted a Balance Your Cycle With Plant-Based Food workshop in my living room. I personally don’t know much about balancing your hormones with plant-based food which is why I brought in plant-based chef Lisa Forbes to help facilitate. You see I’ve been creating these kinds of events for over a year now. In that time, I’ve co-hosted workshops on a variety of topics from eliminating period paid with yoga, to budgeting your way to financial freedom, to storytelling.
The idea to start self-work workshops transpired after seeing the results that my own self-work journey had delivered. I was following my curiosities (like playing the drums) and feeling more confident and alive by the second. Workshops were a way for me to learn a new skill and connect with likeminded individuals. I was so psyched about the results that I wanted to spread the joy to other women in the process.
And So, Self-work Workshops Was Born
The workshops aren’t how I make my money (although someday that is a goal of mine). By trade, I am a website designer, social media manager, and writer for clients all over the world. I have a few steady clients that help me pay my bills. I’ve structured my life in a way that allows me more time than most which I am eternally grateful. That means I have time to think and create and connect with other workshop facilitators so that we can combine our skills and effort in order to enhance the lives of others on their own self work journey.
Every time I do one of these things I learn something new. Sunday was no different.
A couple of hours before the workshop was to begin, I decided to go for a jog to help turn off some of my self-doubt. On my way to the park, I received a Facebook message from a woman (who shall remain nameless) who wanted to come to the workshop and was wondering why she couldn’t buy tickets. Because it was a cooking workshop, and our facilitator had to buy ingredients in advance, I turned off the eventbrite ticket purchasing a day earlier. Normally though, I let people buy tickets on the day of, no problem. I wrote her back immediately and told her that there was still space and if she wanted to come, that she could either bring cash or send money to my PayPal account. She agreed.
The workshop went well. I learned a lot and got inspired to give plant-based a real effort (I’ve dabbled before, but was intimidated by all the information out there). Lisa did a wonderful job of explaining the menstrual cycle and how we can nourish our bodies throughout each stage. We were a small group, but I liked that, especially because we were sharing intimate details of our periods. Everyone seemed engaged, if not a bit shy. We then took a break and helped Lisa prepare some nourishing snacks. While they were chilling in the fridge we learned more priceless information about our bodies. Then we had turmeric lattes and ate our snacks while connecting with one another.
As everyone started to pack up to leave, I asked the woman who shall remain nameless how she’d like to pay for the workshop, cash or PayPal? I felt uncomfortable asking like this. It’s always a bit awkward to ask someone for money even if they have already agreed, especially because we’d just had such a nice afternoon together. “Oh, uh I will pay PayPal,” she stammered as if she forget she had to pay. “Ok, sure no problem, I will send you the email and you can send me the money tonight.” She hugged me and thanked us for the evening, and then she left.
The next day I messaged her from my SelfWork Workshops Business page and gave her the email to send the money to.
No response.
The day after that I tried sending another message with similar information.
No response.
Later that day I got home and realized the message never went through. It was strange. The message wasn’t there in our history.
So I sent her another message. That message wasn’t in my history either.
Something began to feel odd. Did she block me? I couldn’t be sure.
I then decided to message her from my personal Facebook account. “Perhaps something is wrong with Facebook messenger for business,” I thought.
The next day I received confirmation that my latest message had indeed gone through— the message showed up in my history and a blue checkmark was next to the message. She had read it.
But I still got no response.
I was super bummed that this happened, especially because these workshops are to promote self-love, sisterhood and empowerment. They aren’t to turn a huge profit. Yes this workshop was priced rather high for Berlin standards, 45 euros for 3 hours, but I happen to think that’s a great value, especially when you factor in how many hours I spent promoting the event, setting up the eventbrite, preparing my space, cleaning the space and how many hours Lisa spent buying ingredients, preparing the recipes, traveling to my place, sharing her knowledge. Plus, I always make sure to communicate that if you’re having financial difficulties you can always get in touch with me and we can work something out. Not many people ever do, but for the ones who do write to me, I always offer them a discount. I know what it’s like to be financially strained and want to make sure that everyone can access this knowledge regardless of their situation. But the workshops are also about empowering myself and the other facilitators to earn what they are worth. And that means we have to get paid for our effort. There are so many people in Berlin (especially women) that give away their services for free or for far less than they should. While I would also love to host workshops for free (and have done so in the past), unfortunately, we live in a capitalist society which means I need money to pay rent and nourish my body.
Why am I sharing this? Because instead of being bitter, I’m choosing to let this experience make me be better. Here are some lessons I learned in the process:
I’m going to keep asking for what I am worth. Even if people laugh, call me crazy, or refuse to pay me for services already rendered. I will keep asking for what I am worth. And if I’m not sure, I’m going to ask others what they are getting paid for similar work.
I still believe that sisterhood, skillshare, and community are some of the most powerful tools we have as women. I will keep my head high and my heart open.
I’m going to pay for workshops, events, and skillshare. I’m going to pay extra for services that go above and beyond. Even if they say “donation-based” or “pay what you can” — I’m going to pay them what the going rate is. If I can’t afford it, I won’t go (and certainly won’t hug them and take home leftovers if I have no intention of paying.)
If I can’t afford the workshop or the class, but am still really interested, I will ask them if I can pay less or do some work trade. If they agree, I will make sure to share the event with my network, leave that woman a DAMN good review online, and just hype her up as much as possible! I will do the same for my friends’ events even if I have no intention of going. Why? Because we could all use a little more support in this crazy world.
Self-work means stepping out of your comfort zone, putting yourself in spaces that aren’t familiar, and investing in yourself. But it also means lifting up those around you as you rise. I won’t let this woman who shall remain nameless make me bitter —instead, I’m going to let her make me BETTER. Plus I’ve got too much self-work to do!
<3 you all,
Nicole
Accepting Your Way to Happiness
At the start of the year, I had a goal to blog once per week and host a self-work workshop monthly.
At first, everything was going according to plan. I’m sure it also helped that my momentum was high and my workload was light.
But then distraction after distraction hit...
First, my best friend from high school booked a spontaneous trip to visit me in Berlin. Directly after that, I flew to Marrakesh with three friends. Not a week later did my mom arrive for a visit. With her gone, I thought I would finally be able to focus on my goals once again. After playing catchup with client work yesterday, I finally felt like i had some room to breathe. Still, I know this feeling would be fleeting. In about a week, I’d be flying to the states to meet my new nephew and hang out with my 2 year old niece. I’ll be there for a full 2 weeks and will likely be distracted once again, this time by a tiny human tugging on my arm asking me to play cat/dog.
Whew. How the hell do people grow a business while also making time to enjoy life?
Up until last night I was being pretty hard on myself. I couldn’t help but feel like I wasn’t doing enough to grow Self-work Workshops, a community of women who fancy self-empowerment and connecting with other likeminded lady warriors.
It’s a constant tug of war. Balancing client work, building my own projects, taking time to rest and reflect, socializing with my favorite humans, and practicing adequate self care.
I used to think that happiness came from finding the perfect balance between all of those things. But now I know that’s complete and utter BULLSHIT.
Why?
Because life is constantly in flux. If you wait for all of those things to be perfectly aligned, you’re likely going to be feel more disappointment than peace. True happiness is accepting what is and choosing to be joyful regardless.
While listening to Oprah’s SuperSoul conversation with Eckhart Tolle and chipping away at my Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers puzzle last night, I had an epiphany.
I’M TIRED OF FEELING LIKE I’M NOT DOING ENOUGH.
I am my own worst enemy. I have no problem telling friends they are being too hard on themselves or explaining to my boyfriend the importance of quieting his negative self-critic, but when it comes to holding myself to the same standard, I find it much more challenging.
While I am a firm believer that I am the creator of my own experience, the only things I was creating by holding myself to such high standards were feelings of inadequacy, busy-ness, and exhaustion.
Until now….
Good enough IS good enough.
Now that doesn’t mean I can just sit on the couch and let life happen to me. Quite the contrary. But I have to truly believe that things are working out for me and that any time I feel stressed, overworked, or inadequate, I am not aligned with my higher purpose anyway and therefore delaying my joy. These negative emotions are indicators that I need to take a step back and either 1/ change my perspective on the situation (for example, instead of calling these “things” distractions, call them “reasons for living”) OR 2/ take a much needed rest.
And if I happen to skip a week or two of blog posts, or I have to wait a month to host another workshop, the world will not fall apart. I will keep chugging along. I will keep practicing an attitude of gratitude. And who knows, other opportunities I was too busy to recognize before might just open up for me along the way.
We must never get so wrapped up in the end goal that we forget to invite joy in for a tea once in a while.
What is Self-Work?
As a Conscious Business Owner myself, I know firsthand how important it is to have a solid self-work practice in place. Not only does it help keep me grounded and connected to my WHY, but it ensures that I am keeping my heart space open for new ideas and opportunities to come flowing through.
Though self-work sounds like a chore, like washing the dishes or vacuuming the floor, it’s actually a very enjoyable process (once, of course, you get over the shock of stepping outside of your comfort zone and potentially meeting all of your insecurities.) So what is it?
What is self-work?
Self-work is any action you take toward self-improvement. Everyone needs self-work, even if you are the most well-adjusted human being. Why? Because we’ve been conditioned to believe that once we become adults, our fun days are over. We must get a good job, pay our taxes, get married, have children, and then retire. Maybe once we retire we will finally have some time to explore our interests, enroll in a painting class or take up tap dancing. We put off the things that could potentially enrich our lives because we fear rejection, failing, falling, or being made a fool. But what if I told you that courage is not something you’re born with neither is “feeling happy”, “being overjoyed”, or “feeling at peace”? These are things you have to WORK at. Think of them like muscles you have to work out.
We are more than our identities — you are not just a boss, mom, sister, taxpayer, or community member. You are SO much more than that. And it’s YOUR responsibility to uncover who that is so you can live the most joyful life possible.
Why is self-work important?
The best way I know how to describe the process of self-work is that it’s a returning of home to oneself. Along the journey home, you’ll discover the things that make you tick, that make your eyes light up, and that fills your heart with joy and make you feel A L I V E. The best part about the whole process, is that you already have ALL you need to get started. You have all the answers you already need to be located within you (though they are likely buried deep under many years of conditioning.) That’s why I wanted to write this post so that I could share some examples of self-work that worked for me in my own uncovering process.
What is the difference between self work and self care?
While self-care and self-love are important parts of the puzzle, they are also frequently used as buzzwords, clickbait, or marketing schticks. If a company ever tries to convince you that self-love or self-care is equivalent to “treating yo’self” to whatever product they’re slinging— run away immediately, you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with self-care or self-love. The reason I chose to call self-work, “work” is because I wanted to emphasize the fact that you’ll need to do something different if you want to achieve change. If you are unsatisfied with the way your life is going, putting in self-work will not only allow you to live a more joyful, passionate, and purposeful life but it will inspire others around you to do the same damn thing. After all, only I am accountable for my own happiness. Not my friends, not my partner, not my boss. Self-work such as learning a new skill for your resume, delving deeper into a topic of interest, or learning how to make repairs around your house has the power to empower, enlighten and inspire.
What self-work isn’t:
Bath bombs and face masks. Self-work is hard work. It takes time, effort, self-compassion, and patience, a lot of patience. Digging, hurting, feeling, removing, rebuilding, and failing is tough, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. It is worth it and the reward is tenfold.
How do I work on myself every day?
Good question. While this answer will vary from person to person depending on cultural background, personal preferences, and other factors, I can provide some examples of things that I count as self-work.
Here are some examples of things that count as “self-work”:
Meditating every day even when I don’t feel like it
Eating mindfully, and paying attention to how different foods make me feel immediately after
Nourishing my body with colorful, organic foods
Dancing often
Stretching nightly
Practicing yoga
Sticking my belly out when I breathe
Laughing loudly with my whole body
Listening more than I speak
Recognizing my own privilege
Using my privilege to help someone in my community
Creating for the sake of creating; painting, collaging, writing
Hanging up those creations on my refrigerator or sending screenshots to friends
Playing an instrument badly but with a lot of chutzpah
Practicing random acts of kindness until they aren’t random anymore
Decluttering my living space, desk space, car, purse, or backpack
Walking in the grass/or on the earth barefoot
Exploring the nature around my neighborhood
Freeing myself from distractions (i.e. taking a technology timeout, putting my phone on airplane mode)
Spending time with a child or dog and doing as they do (i.e, howl, shake your tail, throw your head back in laughter.)
Giving a compliment to a stranger (if I can’t think of something nice to say, I’ll lock eyes and flash a cheesy smile)
Writing down a list of 5 things I enjoyed doing when I was 8, then doing those things
Swinging on a swing
Taking a new route home
Attending a workshop that piques my interest: kombucha brewing, rock climbing, poetry writing, storytelling
Organizing (or attending) a book club, new moon club, cooking club, tarot reading club, or just ANY KINDA CLUB
Standing on a stage at an open mic night and reading a page from my middle school diary
Making myself vulnerable
Traveling
Identifying my triggers
Telling the people you love the most that they are the people you love the most
Going to a therapist regularly
Being selective of the media I consume
Being responsible for the energy I bring into a room
Expressing gratitude out loud whenever possible (& sending thank you cards for everything)
Reflecting on how far I’ve come
Questioning the status quo
Paying attention to the bodily sensations that arise when I’m around certain people or in certain environments
Not letting my emotions overpower me, control me, or suffocate me
Manifesting something W I L D
Checking in with my mental, physical, and emotional state regularly
Listening to my gut (literally and figuratively)
Focusing on the things that matter most
Forgiving my enemies (including the biggest baddest one of them all…myself)
Empathizing with everyone I meet
Being, just being (I am a human being, not a human doing.)
What is self work success?
Doing these things. Doing some of them. Doing all of them. And then when you wake up, doing them again. Doing them again until they eventually become habits.
If you don’t know how to do any of the things I suggested, Google it, YouTube it, order a book about it on Amazon, or shoot me an email. I’d love to share my tips so you can upgrade your life. It’s my mission in life to help folks find joy in life and live fully every day.
And don’t underestimate the power of the internet when it comes to improving your life - it has been a HUGE help on my own self-work journey and can be for you as well, especially if you live somewhere rural and your community doesn’t offer a lot in terms of workshops, open mic nights, or bookshops. For example, you can take advantage of Facebook’s event search, eventbrite.com, and Meetup.com. They are all great places to find fellow self-workers/interesting events. Nowadays, a lot of facilitators also offer a virtual option when joining a circle, class, event, or meetup so there is really no excuse not to put in the work!
To sum it up
Being a Conscious Business Owner who only does self-work once in a blue moon is like being a therapist who only goes to therapy when a catastrophe happens. Sure you might be able to do the job, and you might even help someone in the process, but the depth of your healing abilities will only go so far. We’ve all been to a yoga class where the instructor arrives late and flustered. Instead of leaving the class feeling relaxed, you end up feeling agitated and stressed likely because of the stress your ungrounded instructor infused into the place.
We are ALL energetic beings who impact others with our energetic output. But if you are a healer or a Conscious Business Owner, you are likely interacting with many emotionally vulnerable or marginalized people daily. That means it’s even MORE important to make sure you are grounded and fully embodied so that you can hold space for others. How do you do that? Self-work!