You and Your Paralysis are Not Alone

As an entrepreneur, even the best of days can feel like a struggle. On the good days, making a strong decision that benefits not just you, but also your company and clients, can still be tough.  These are not, arguably, the best of days; there’s so much concern and, what feels like treachery in the air, regardless of which side of the political line you fall on.

It's understandable to be concerned about all the changes taking place, but there’s also room for hope. The challenge is that hope is much harder to hold onto. Our brains are wired to focus on the negative to keep us safe. Interestingly, the things that protect us are our brains’ recognition of the negative and the potential for catastrophe.

Spiritually, we know that hope, joy, and a positive focus are what will lead us to our best lives and bring about the kind of change we wish to see in this world—whether that change is personal, your family, your community, or entire nations and cultures.🌎

You already have a tough job. Now, circumstances beyond your control are making it even harder. I’ve noticed that I tend to slide into paralysis. I post a lot on social media because that’s where my clients are and how people discover me, just like you. I remove negative voices from my social media feed.

Yet, those encouraging posts about staying consistent, claiming that it will all come together for you, feel hollow and, frankly, like just another layer of the noise that constantly bombards me, right now.

Logically, I know that consistency in anything, taking small steps forward, can make a difference and help me move forward. But the feeling of paralysis is real; it’s much easier to slip into negativity and feel stuck than to push through every day.

So, what do you do? 🤔 I found myself asking that question after spending at least two hours that morning wondering how I could move my business—and myself—forward in a way that felt honest, authentic, and helpful to others, while also furthering my mission.

I value authenticity. It’s the dividing line between someone who is genuinely appealing and someone you sense is only in it for the money. More deeply, my question was: how can I move my business forward authentically, share on social media, develop an offer, and connect with clients while I’m sitting in this pool of paralysis? My mind isn’t focused on the positive; it’s not focused on the negative, it’s overwhelmed.

That’s when it hit me. I’m not in this space alone. I’m not the only one feeling paralyzed. I’m not the only one looking out at what is happening within the industry, the country, the world 🌎, and feeling concerned.

I’m not the only one sitting in a space of paralysis because of those concerns.

I’m not the only one struggling to do something, anything positive.

There are so many of you in this paralysis pit with me, and none of us want to be here.

My greatest gift to myself- and to you- is my authenticity. Acknowledging that the space I’m in is messing with my head and it’s leading to paralysis. If it’s messing with your head and leading to paralysis too, it’s OK.

You are not alone.

Take a breath.

Acknowledge that you’re paralyzed, overwhelmed by everything happening around you. Acknowledge that your vision, your mission, still matter. They matter more now than they did 12 months ago or two years ago. Why? Because we’re in this shitty space right now.

Here’s the irony: Acknowledging that I’m not alone, that other entrepreneurs are feeling the same way, that coaches, consultants, web designers, all manner of business owners are in the same space, is the very thing that got me moving to write this. Because of YOU. Your mission. Your vision. Your value to this world is so great, the world needs you- now!

Remember that you are not alone. That you are important. That other folks out there need your message- even if it feels like it’s falling into a void. When nothing is happening. When you can feel the slow energy behind business decisions. It’s tough to stay out of paralysis. I know, I go in and out daily. 📆

Here’s what I’m gonna do: For the next 30 minutes, I’m only going to think about you. What can I say? What can I do? That will help you get out of that paralysis space.

You see, my mission is to help businesses- especially those that are heart-led, purpose-driven, and spiritual- grow. When you’re paralyzed, you’re not growing. Your business isn’t growing. Your mission is static at best. Anything I can share that helps you take one next step- maybe even two- is gold for me. It pulls me out of the paralysis too. I just have to forget about the void. 😉

It’s not just hope for myself.

It’s hope for anybody who sees this message. Hope that it gives them enough energy to take one step forward. If you can only take that one step- that’s OK. Celebrate your step.

Give yourself a break. Take a walk, pet the dog, start your spring garden, remind yourself how important you are, how important your message is.  

Then do just one thing, when you feel that little glimmer of hope.

Do … just …        one …        thing.

It’s good for your brain to focus on hope. The more you focus on hope, the easier it becomes to stay in hope. It won’t be easy. 🌟 The times are what they are.

If you’re focusing on that little piece of hope, and I’m focusing on mine, and the business leader down the street is focusing on theirs, we can create hope within our space. That’s my hope.

And when you slip back into paralysis. And you will. I will. ☹️ Do this all over again. Look for that tiny glimmer of hope and take just one step forward.

What if you don’t find that glimmer of hope? Remember, you are not alone. Reach out to a friend. If you’re not comfortable reaching out to a friend, reach out to me. If you feel alone in your paralysis, drop a comment here, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. 🤗 I’m willing to bet you’ll get likes or comments from others that think they are alone.

I’m not a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a doctor, or a certified anything.

I am an entrepreneur, I’m in the soup with you.  

If you have a way to pull yourself out of paralysis and out of the negative mindset, please share it. I would love to try it.