CreateWell...

Being an Entrepreneur is hard work and there is no one size fits all way to do it. There’s time when throwing in the towel seems like the best option coupled with times where it’s time to reevaluate and reset our foundation. As an entrepreneur for over 15 years, what I can tell you is that it does get better. For me it took therapy and changing my mindset. It took taking a hard look at what wasn’t working and finding the things that do work. I had to get very clear on what I wanted my life to look like and take the steps to get there! If you’re in a place where you just feel stuck, remember we all have the ability to LIVE LIFE WELL and that peace is possible. Here’s a little list to keep in your back pocket when it comes to your business and your creativity. 

C - Create Boundaries create a schedule, self-care routine and boundaries that align with your goals.

R - Remain Resilient - realistically find balance, alignment and set realistic expectations. 

E - Evolve Constantly - begin with acceptance, subscribe to a growth mindset, focus on the positive, enhance skills often, stimulate your mind and eliminate what’s not working.

A - Build Personal Autonomy - self-advocate, identify stressors and triggers, focuses on automatic thoughts, anxiety, frustration and personal growth.

T - Take Care of You - listen to your body, incorporate realistic self care, find support, don’t isolate and use coping strategies and wellness practices often.

E - Emphasize the good - Separate personal happiness from business performance, affirm yourself and your wins. Use losses as opportunities for growth.

If you need support, join the CreateWell Support group created by our editor Isha Gaines. CreateWell is designed for Creatives who are frustrated a lot, anxious  often, stuck or those who feel alone in business. Join by clicking ‘support group’ at www.ishagaines.com

When Anxiety is Getting The Best of You...

40 million adults in the United States are affected by ANXIETY. It’s only fitting that we begin breaking down what Anxiety is and how it can be debilitating for the woman on the move and the woman in business.

What is Anxiety: 

Anxiety is intense, persistent and excessive worry about EVERYDAY situations. When affected by Anxiety one can feel a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, feeling tired and sweating. 

A series of smaller events or a big event can trigger anxiety, which is our bodies natural response to stress. Anxiety is centered around the feeling of fear and/or apprehension about what happens next. Feeling nervous about a big test, or new job is completely normal, but excessive worry that’s extreme, long-lasting and debilitating could be a high level Anxiety or Anxiety disorder.

When Anxiety is present you’re in overdrive. With the release of adrenaline, your body is in fight or flight mode constantly.

When you’re afraid to do things you’d otherwise enjoy or have the feeling of fear with you constantly, it may be time to talk to someone about what you’re feeling.  

The feelings of Anxiety can range from rapid heart beat to stomach butterflies. You can also feel like you’ve been punched in the stomach, like you’re losing control and flustered in your decision making. 

Although symptoms will vary from person to person, anxiety can also affect your sleep and how well you concentrate. 

Pay Attention To: 

If you’re worrying too much 

If your anxiety makes you angry

You feel depressed and hopeless 

If anxiety affects your physical well being 

If you have suicidal thoughts 

Is there a solution? 

Absolutely. Therapy and/or medication can help give you the coping skills needed to neutralize the Anxiety or regulate brain function. The first step is identifying the issue, then your provider can create the best treatment plan for you.

If you know anyone who needs counseling services or (you) let them know!

Mending Broken Pieces Counseling (Ask about student interns) 

Insurance is not required, Flexible Hours, All Virtual 

Specialty: 

Isha Gaines (Student Intern)

M.Ed. in Marriage, Family and Couples Counseling - Lamar University

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy incorporating Expressive, Play and Art Modalities

Specializing in: Anxiety, Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Distortions, Self-Worth and Growth Mindset

Servicing: Children, Adolescents, Young Adults and Women's Issues

Counseling Form: https://mendingbrokenpiecescounseling.com/contact

Mistakes can Motivate & Inspire

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re kicking this month off by talking about Mistakes and how to make them work in your favor! 

Have you ever made a mistake and punish yourself for an extended period of time after the mistake was made? Whether replaying the event over and over, talking to yourself in a negative way, living in fear or simply not owning up to the mistake, making a mistake can appear to be the end of it all. Although making a mistake can be defeating and honestly quite frustrating, how we respond to a mistake exposes what we believe about ourselves, others and the world around us. Although we feel like we don’t have any control over our mistakes there are some ways we can still win. Here’s four ways your mistakes can motivate and inspire: 

1. Reflecting on a mistake increases success the next time the event takes place. No you know what not to do, the hope is that you’ll face the event differently. When we make mistakes it’s okay to meditate what we would have done differently and use that conversation to increase our success the next time. You can face that event with a new perspective and increased confidence that you can handle it differently this time. 

2. Making a mistake leaves room for personal growth. Ask yourself, why did the mistake happen? Was the mistake based on irrational thinking, lack of resources, little time, human error? With this kind of clarity you can identify your own areas of growth so that the mistake happens less.

3. Making a mistake teaches us valuable lessons about our feelings. If we are hard on ourselves this communicates how deeply affected we were about the event. I’d stretch and say it’s a feeling you don’t enjoy. If those feelings alter the way you see yourself, then we want to change our behavior. Conducting a body scan can teach you about how a mistake made you feel so you’re inspired to approach the situation differently. 

4. Making a mistake identifies where self-compassion is needed. How long did you punish yourself after a mistake was made? Did you call yourself names? Did you self-destruct or emotionally deflate. Did you give up your dreams? Did you act irrationally that led to a bigger problem? Did you lose yourself? That’s okay. You always want to honor your feelings at every stage - recognize them, identify them and call them by name and then give yourself grace. Giving grace means accepting it. Once you’ve accepted it, you can approach it differently.