Thoughts on Mental Health & Running a Small Business (Part 2)

Following on from my other post for Mental Health Awareness Week , and really directed at other small businesses owners who have anxiety or to people who would like to have a business but feel their anxiety makes it impossible: my only advice is to develop your offer in a way that works for you. “Do business your way”.

The three things I listed in my last post are three of many boundaries and systems I’ve implemented to make my business function best for me. I’ve been told by lots of people over the years that a business like mine has to operate in a specific way, based on what other successful ones do, but I’ve found that that’s not true. I’m 100% sure this is true for all businesses; We are living at a time when how we ‘do business’ is changing, technology is revolutionising how we sell and market our products and services. It is becoming increasingly varied and flexible. Don’t be frightened to choose a way that suits you and don’t feel constrained by how others do things. (Don’t look, then you won’t know!!)

When you need an income from your business, it’s easy to think that you can’t limit what you do or say no to work, you must take everything. I actually think it’s more lucrative to work intuitively and clearly define your business:Become well known for doing what YOU do, your way! I think of it like this: more people might be able to access my flowers if I had a phone number, a shop or let people visit the field, but it’s entirely possible that nobody would if the pressure got too much and made me ill. If we prioritise our health, our income becomes easier. We are able to function better. We’re not fighting ourselves, taking time off or struggling through a day. We can thrive.

Just to finish; we can only thrive with anxiety if it’s not ‘acute’. If things are bad, you have panic attacks, psychosis or are struggling to live a normal life, please seek professional help. Counselling and support isn’t an admission of weakness and it will enable you to feel better sooner. You will. I can assure you of that. That strength to get help is also your superpower. Living with anxiety doesn’t mean accepting a less full life. If we get help, set boundaries, prioritise our health, we can thrive.

-Harriet xx