On a recent trip to the ocean, I excitedly walked down to the water’s edge and did what I have done every summer for the past 11 years.
I cast a set of wishes into the ocean by tossing a few shells I had picked up out of the sand, casting them into the waves with strong intentions and desires attached to each one.
With some shells, I was letting go of what is no longer serving me.
With the rest, I sent wishes out to sea.
This year, in June, when I sent these wishes to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, business was especially slow and I was starting to stress, as one does, that I would end up having to live under a bridge or, worse, get a J-O-B.
As entrepreneurs, this is a very common feeling we experience throughout a day, week, month, year.
NOTHING impacts capacity more than feeling real feelings of scarcity in your business …
And yet, what I’ve learned in the past 12 years as a full-time entrepreneur is leaning in and taking better care of yourself when times feel scary or hard is always, always what’s needed.
Instead of pushing and powering through … take a deep breath, regroup and you will find the clarity necessary to thrive and flourish.
It happens every time for me — and for my clients.
Some turn to spreadsheets and numbers. Cold calls and over-working on boring busyness tasks that make them feel better.
But, I’ve learned there’s another way through.
I turn to spiritual practices that have served me well over the past decade of being a full-time self-employed coach and consultant.
The next morning, after the shells were tossed and the wishes made, a new client exploratory session popped up on my calendar out of nowhere. A referral. Someone I had never met in my life or even crossed paths with.
And, that call resulted in a fantastic new start-up consulting client I am thrilled to work with on building out her first offers, her marketing assets and her messaging.
This story reflects much of how I’ve handled uncertainty in business: With surrender and letting go because what I have found is the more I force and push, the less I receive.
What is Business Uncertainty?
Anything can cause feelings of uncertainty — the loss of a big client, a shaky market, economic downturns and inflation, etc.
Uncertainty stirs up feelings of scarcity, rejection and not enoughness.
And, of course, it stirs up fears of failure — and, with that, change.
The thing about uncertainty is that is can be a huge driver for taking bigger risks.
After all, what do you have to lose if you are already feeling uncertain?
Taking risks — what I call Brave YES Power Moves — are what move the needle in a business.
Once we take that bold action, though, it takes time for things to shake out.
That’s where this week’s tips on Brave YES Mindset nurturing comes into play.
How to Thrive (Not Just Survive) Through Business Uncertainty
There are a ton of resources out there giving you strategy and tactics to grow your business but in my experience, most of that is work you’ve already been doing and pushing harder only creates more friction against what is.
As the lovely Lizzy Gilbert said on a recent podcast, “everything is easy when you’re not in resistance to it.”
This has truly been my experience.
When business is slow and uncertain, my own philosophy has been to not fight that but to appreciate it and get curious with what’s happening within me, in the environment or in the economy.
That slowing down and stillness often brings out the best ideas and the ah-ha that I need to respond to the times.
But, what we do with that slowing down and stillness is important. That’s why I wanted to share some tips on how to THRIVE not just survive these times of uncertainty and challenges.
This list of tips is about nurturing your mindset and your feelings, not just powering through.
It is NOT about manifesting. Because all manifestation begins with taking steps toward actualization.
Sometimes, though, we must focus inward in order to shine outward.
How to Thrive (Not Just Survive) Through Business Uncertainty
1. Practice daily mindfulness meditation to stay grounded and calm. The more meditation and mindfulness you do, the more calm you’ll feel.
2. Cultivate gratitude by keeping a daily journal of things you’re thankful for in your business and personal life. Don’t just write the same thing each day. Challenge yourself to write at least 3 to 5 things.
3. Get out of your office and away from your computer! Engage in regular nature walks or outdoor activities to reset your perspective and boost perspective and creativity.
4. Practice compassionate leadership. By extending kindness to yourself, your team, and your clients during challenging periods, you are using emotional intelligence and boosting everyone’s resilience. We’re all fighting a tough battle at times and grace is always, always needed.
5. Explore a Brave YES Vision Quest. Explore the power of visualization, imagining positive outcomes for your business to maintain optimism. Focus on the possibility over the problems and the best possible outcomes over the worst possible scenarios.
6. Cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity about the future, rather than fear of the unknown. Spend time daily getting curious about the future and where it may take you and your business.
7. Practice Radical Energy Management through joyful movement, nourishing consuming and rest to shore up your resilience.
8. Engage in creative activities outside of your daily work to stimulate innovative thinking for your creativity and life, not just your business.
9. Flip Your Workday. Create and maintain sacred spaces, both physical and mental, for renewal and inspiration.
10. Adopt the Brave YES Mindset: Embrace courage, intuition, and aligned action to transform uncertainty into a journey of personal and professional growth.
By implementing these holistic strategies, with a focus on spiritual wellbeing and the Brave YES Mindset, you’re nurturing not just your business, but your whole self. This approach allows you to navigate uncertainty with grace, purpose, and resilience, turning challenges into opportunities for deep, meaningful growth and success.
BELOW I have created a worksheet for you to use to start implementing every single one of these in your life and business starting today.
Download the tool now.
Interested in creating an strategy to move out of scarcity and into courageous action? Book a creative business strategy exploratory call with me now.