The Side of Entrepreneurship That Isn’t Talked About Often, Part 2

In part one of this series, I talked about what I know about you and anxiety. In this part two, I want to talk about what I believe about anxiety and what I want for you as an entrepreneur. I am not a medical doctor. I am not a psychiatrist. I am not going to pretend that I am. I am writing from what I see and hear. I talk to entrepreneurs like you every day and I listen to what they tell me. I know entrepreneurs who rely on some kind of medication either anti-depressants or tranquilizers to manage their anxiety and get through their day. I don’t have an opinion on this. Not yet.

I know what I want for you. I don’t want you to numb yourself. I don’t want you to live disturbed. I don’t want you to live scared. I don’t want you to get stuck in mood swings. I have been there. I know. I told you. This was tough to write.

I want you to talk about it.

I want you to talk about what it feels to struggle. I don’t want you to feel lonely. I don’t want you to be stressed. I know you are strong. I also know you are human. And I know it’s important to talk.

I know how important pursuing your dreams is to you. It is important to me too. I don’t want you to give up your mental health and happiness doing it. I want you to be fit. I want you to be mentally strong. Life is about your whole being not just one part. It’s spiritual. It’s mental. It’s emotional. It’s physical. It’s you.

I know anxiety can be a nightmare. I know it can be unbearable. Don’t get me wrong. It’s normal to experience anxiety sometimes. It’s a natural part of being human.

I will be honest. I believe some anxiety is good for you. I know without anxiety I wouldn’t wake up in the morning to do the things that I know I must do. In certain situations, I believe anxiety is beneficial because it plays a protective role. It helps you get your stuff together. I intended to use another word in that last sentence. I will let you replace it.

This is what I believe.

I don’t believe anxiety should be debilitating. I don’t believe it should be paralyzing. I know it’s not easy to talk about this stuff. I know life can feel like a wild ride. There are ups and downs. That’s okay.

I know what’s not okay. Not talking openly about what you are going through. I am here if you need to talk. I will help you find healthy ways to deal with your anxiety.

I don’t want you to hide out. I don’t want you to sleep walk through life. I don’t want you to do what I used to do. I know all about hiding out and sleep walking through life. I became an expert at that. I didn’t know any better.

I want you to be full of peace. I want you to be centred. I want you to be relaxed. I want you to be focused. I don’t want you to be exhausted all the time. I don’t want you to be worn out. I don’t want you to wake up super tired every morning.

Remember, I am you.

I know what it means to spend sleepless nights starring at the ceiling. I know what it means to have a racing mind. I know what it means to have your heart pounding all the time. I know what it means to ask these questions.

What if this doesn’t work out?

What if I lose everything?

Maybe like me, you will lose everything. That’s a story for another day. Be still. If you live right, you will get it all back. I promise. I can show you how to get back up after a hard fall. I help people get out of a mess.

I believe in self-reliance. I believe in time alone. However, I don’t want you to be silent. I don’t want you to be stuck. I know you are a rock. I know you are tough. It’s okay to ask for help.

I don’t want you to get lost in your mind. Take care of your mind. Take care of your body. I know you want to be productive. I know you want to be efficient. I want that for you too. I also want you to be happy first.

I am aware of the stigma around anxiety. That’s why most entrepreneurs struggle silently. I don’t want you to pity yourself. You are not weak. There is no shame.

It’s okay to feel anxious. It’s okay to feel tense. It’s okay to feel frustrated. It’s okay to feel like you are losing control. These are just feelings. They too shall pass. Be still. These feelings are part of being human. It’s what you do with them that matters. You have a choice in how unbearable they become. You have a choice in how debilitating they become. You have a choice in how prolonged they become.

In his memoir Man’s Search for Meaning chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in concentration camps during the Second World War, Viktor Frankl reminds us that in any situation we have the power to choose who we want to be.

“Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of the typical inmate.”

You can choose to think differently about your anxiety. You can choose clarity. You can choose calmness. You can choose you. You don’t have to live with a clouded mind. You don’t have to live with a scattered mind. You can choose to be okay. You can choose to let go of fear. You can choose to live. The question is how do you choose. There is a scripture in the book of Philippians that has helped me a lot in choosing and making decisions in my moments of anxiety.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I love this scripture and each time I get overwhelmed with anxiety, I remind myself of this scripture and I ask myself these six questions.

Are the thoughts in my head true?

Am I being honest with myself and others about how I feel?

Is what I am about to do the right thing to do?

Am I being pure and transparent in my actions?

Are my actions coming from a place of love?

Am I being good to others?

The more I ask these questions, the less anxious I am. These questions are about being truthful, honest, just, pure, loving, and good to yourself and others. Any one of these questions can help you choose wisely and make smart decisions which helps to reduce your anxiety and improve the quality of your life.

Trust me, you’ll become more pleased with yourself when you are consistent in asking these questions and as another scripture says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Anxiety is always after your heart and your mind and I believe Jesus can help you guard your heart and your mind. I am here if you want to talk more about this. Book a call with me.