Finding Yourself in Change
Big Love Yoga… By Design
First of all, I miss you!
I hope you, your families & friends are well, taking appropriate safety measures and keeping a positive perspective.
In my last update email I shared a bit about the launch of Big Love Yoga @ Studio Red Design. I recently had the chance to present to a group of female entrepreneurs through Her Handshake (herhandshake.com) about my experience of pivoting from a well-established design firm with many long-standing partners and clients (you great people!) to a new effort. As I was pulling my remarks together, it occurred to me that many of you are dealing with similar issues. You may not have started a new business but for sure you are probably facing uncertainty, stress, and change. I thought it might be beneficial to share some of my key thoughts on this time as there is strength in knowing that this is a shared experience and effort (many hands/minds make the work lighter!).
The first key insight is that fear is the mind-killer (bonus to all of you who recognize that from Dune)! Fear is a natural instinct created from hundreds of thousands of years of facing wild animals or enemies on the plains. The result is an explosion of endorphins and stress providing us with much needed energy to avoid becoming something’s lunch. These were VERY useful outcomes for our ancestors but not so much for us today. It weakens our immune systems and makes it harder to focus or be in state of calm due to the tunnel vision these chemicals create within us.
So what to do? Frame and tackle your fears and turn that energy to more productive uses. Breath work (pranayama) and yoga can help a lot to ease the parasympathetic nervous system. Breath is magic; it is fundamentally life. Begin and end each day quietly breathing, with long, deep exhalations; this will give you a sense of peace and energy.
Two related insights are the need for radical acceptance and gaining patience. There is a whole bunch we cannot control. To deal with this, break your daily thoughts or concerns into two buckets - those things you can control and those that you can not control. Focus on working through the items in the first bucket and do not give energy to the second. We are where we are and should make the best of it. Taking mindful moments of gratitude for the small things also helps.
The final three insights are probably really most applicable to those who have started new businesses during this time: don’t take it personally; remember to breath; and build a foundation for the future.
I welcome the chance to discuss any new design projects you may be considering or to just connect with another adult (particularly for those parents out there…you know what I mean). Of course you are each also equally welcomed to check our and perhaps attend a virtual yoga session with Big Love Yoga. You can find details here.
Her Handshake
The idea behind Her Handshake is to be a brand that empowers and shines the light on women owned and supported businesses. I want to create a village of sisters who support each other as good humans, entrepreneurs, moms and friends. We all need a little help every now and then and this local community of women and people who support women can be each person’s go to village. If this can help people feel secure, happy and provide a safe space, my goal will be achieved.
Until we connect next, be safe and be well.