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Mining the Gold in Hard Times: 5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself and Your Practice When the Economy is Down
Our culture tells us that when the going gets tough, we should be tough too and get going even harder. Workaholism is rewarded, even lauded. Slowing down is feared and judged.
But common wisdom isn't always wise!
Falling Prey to A Vicious Cycle
When we go faster and try to accomplish more, we may accidentally engage the same neurons involved in fight or flight. This can induce even more fear - as we misread our physiological reactions. Given the fear that is already in the air due to the economy, it easy to experience fear-based or scarcity-based striving.
This is ineffective. All animals, including people, can sense fear. And we tend to avoid it. When you try to attract clients from a place of fear, your efforts can easily backfire. You end up working harder than ever with less to show. You experience a self-fulfilling prophesy - things must be really bad if I'm working so hard and nothing comes of it. It's a vicious cycle.
Creating a Virtuous Cycle
- Be gentle with the frightened and confused parts of yourself. If you've experienced fear about the economy or your practice, you may want to crack the whip to get that website finished or send out that newsletter. Resist the urge to rush yourself. Instead, pay attention to the fear and anger. What old wounds are getting activated now? What second (or fifth) chance are you being given to heal something from the past?
- Focus on your core values and beliefs. If you're not sure of these, use a tool like the Vision Board or the online course, Discovering Your True Goals.
- Go more slowly. Embrace down time. This is the space where your creativity and passion can flourish, given permission and safety. If you surrender to silence, what might you finally be able to hear from that still, small voice?
- Pay attention to all you have to give. When we give our gifts to the world, we remind ourselves that we have constant access to a resource that never runs out. Pay special attention to the intersection of your gifts and what the world needs. You may discover a new niche, a different client base, or even a product to offer.
- Resist the urge to hoard "just in case." This thinking is addictive. More is never enough. Instead practice "just in time" thinking. Practice having faith that what you need will show up at just the right time. Read Martha Beck's article on "Just in Time Thinking for more information."
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