Grow Your Business Without Losing Your Soul
I’m a 3 on the enneagram, which means that I’m an achiever. The way this has worked itself out in my life is that I love starting new things - I’ve started or helped to start multiple businesses, non-profits and ministries.
I would describe myself as driven - to a fault - and without thinking through what I need in terms of self-care, my mind can easily become a runaway train. Before I know it, I am stressed out, full of anxiety and underperforming everywhere.
Below are 8 essentials to staying internally healthy when there are pressures all around.
Phone calls > Texting - I know I know...no one makes phone calls anymore. They are a lost art form. Everyone texts (including me) but it is easy to write something or use emojis that don’t represent how you really feel. We need each other and texting leaves a lot to be desired. I call 3 people in my life each day. I dare you to pick up a phone and call someone to see how they are doing.
Silence & Meditation - It is very easy to have every moment of our lives filled with activity, sounds, media, distractions, entertainment, kids, tv, dog, etc etc etc. Silence and meditation help me to connect to my senses and to connect with God. I put this into my calendar because otherwise it just doesn't happen. I usually read something thought-provoking beforehand to give my mind something to focus on.
No-Mail - My inbox calls me like a Siren, and we know how that ends. It leads me down rabbit holes, into stress and out of rhythm. After an extended period of time, I’ll wake up and realize I haven’t done anything meaningful in hours - just responding to emails. Ugh…I hate that feeling. The inbox should be a place you check, not the address where you live. Only pop in and out of email a couple of times a day so that you can focus on getting some deep focus work done in the meantime.
Journaling - I think Socrates may have been onto something when he said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Journaling has been a helpful way to process emotions and experiences over the years. I have regularly recorded my thoughts over the past 15 years - not every day but with some decent consistency. I type very quickly, so I use the Day One app to record my thoughts, dreams, prayers, etc. Check it out at www.dayoneapp.com
Turn off your phone - This has looked many different ways for me over the years but the principle is the same: we need to disconnect from our phones. We don’t for many reasons: out of obligation to work, desire to be distracted or just thoughtlessness. The result for me is almost always a frazzled mind and spirit. When can you make time to disconnect? Find a rhythm that works for you. Perhaps it's during certain hours of the day, or days of the week. It is incredibly liberating to remember that the world will be just fine if you don’t immediately respond to something online.
Prayer - This one may not apply to everyone, but prayer has been a really important part of my entrepreneurship. There can be so much emphasis on what SETH needs to do that I forget I’m not in control. When I pray, I’m not trying to twist God’s arm, but I’m actively putting my trust in the fact that God has a good plan. I’m reminding myself of God’s character and asking him to remove my anxiety, fear and other character defects.
Lay off the Sauce - I’ve been sober for a number of years after I realized I was depending too much on alcohol to deal with the pressures of starting something new. I have often tried to add new things (ie, health food, exercise) without examining what unhealthy patterns I have first. If your best friends are Jack and Jose, this might be a great first step for you too.
Family Time - I’ve been married for 15+ years and have 4 sons aged 7-12. Our home life often feels more like a tornado than a calm sea. But I find it less rewarding and fulfilling when I’m one foot in, one foot out through technology. When I’m fully present, family life can really restore my soul and remind me of what matters. So once you turn off your phone, turn to your family.
