How many times have you made a mistake and thought to yourself “You’re such an idiot! How could you do this?” versus “What you’re doing is hard, it’s okay, keep going!”? For me, it’s much more natural to think the former. However, I know I won’t last long as an entrepreneur if I don’t have self-compassion.
Compassion for myself? What the heck is that? “Self-compassion is simply the same kindness to ourselves that we give to others?”
When you interact with another small business and they make a mistake, chances are, you are OVERLY kind to them and tell them it’s no big deal. So why don’t you do the same for yourself?
Just like any job, being an entrepreneur is HARD. It’s different from other jobs though because there is no rule book. No one is there to train you. There is no one to hold you accountable or catch your mistakes as they happen. Very few people can even answer questions for you because they don’t know specifics about your business.
So what the heck are you supposed to do?
What I’ve learned so far this year is that no one of us really knows what we’re doing! Give yourself the compassion you deserve. It’s okay if you mess up here and there. Prepare yourself for it, because it’s going to happen. Use it as a learning lesson and remember to do it differently in the future.
Remember to find your people and keep them in your corner. There are tons of entrepreneurs out there who have probably made the same mistake. Lean on them. Never underestimate the power of connection.
xo,
Heather
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