According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data which was collected in the first eight months of 2009, business owners enjoy the highest level of overall well-being. As a healing practitioner, you are probably not surprised by this report. Most likely you went into the holistic healing business to create a higher level of well-being not only for others, but for yourself. The one thing this data doesn’t mention is that your personal well-being is the key to the well-being of your business. As a holistic healer, your business is a formal extension of you and the energy you offer others. The foundation of a thriving business is the quality of health, wellness and satisfaction in your personal life.
If your business is struggling to make money or attract clients, it’s time to go back and review how well you are taking care of yourself. Remember, your business is supposed to serve you. You created it to contribute not only to the well-being of others, but to your own personal and financial well-being. Too often when business starts to suffer, the business owner begins to neglect himherself. The excuse is usually that the money isn’t there for the massages, or the long vacations. But the truth is that what may be wearing you down are the little things, the sleepless nights, the worry, the working harder to keep your head above water. All of these little things take you out of balance and dramatically diminish your ability to bring the kind of energy you want to your business.
So let’s go back to the basics. If you have created a self-care plan, go back and review it. If not, now is the time to do it. When you do it, forget the fancy spa treatments for now, and focus on answering this two questions.
1. What can I do for myself right now, which improves my health and mental state and honors my budget Think about the small things, nutrition, rest, exercise, even hydration.
2. What activities uplift me, bring me joy and increase the passion in my life Again, keep in mind what honors your budget, but don’t let it limit you. For instance if you are passionate about sailing and can’t afford it, think of ways in which you can bring the feeling of the open ocean to you without breaking the bank. It could be as simple as a photograph of a time when you were sailing, or a piece of sailing art. You may even look into teaching the basics of sailing as a night class or online.
When you take care of yourself first, everything else follows. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but the energy that you have to put into building a successful business will increase as well.
Tags: eight months, head above water, health wellness, holistic healer, holistic healing, index data, self care, sleepless nights, spa treatments, thriving business