Sometimes things don’t pan out as expected…

Lately I have been reminded, personally and through the experiences of people all around me, that health is our most precious asset. But also that we tend to dramatically overlook it.

Last month I decided to go one step ahead with Wonderful Mess and redo my website in order to start a blog, to add up to the content I have already been posting this year and review how I share the many things on my mind as a counsellor. I caught up with a marketing expert and we discussed a marketing plan and set-up milestones before my trip to France in September.

But then, I found myself living on my own at home for the very first time since 2011, as my husband went to Europe for 3 weeks alone.

It probably didn't help that a total stranger had decided to take a walk on the scaffolding on our balcony at 5am 2 weeks before my husband flew away.

Every night for the past 3 weeks, I have dreaded going to bed, since, as soon as it got dark in Melbourne, my body went into fight or flight mode at every noise I could hear inside or outside my apartment.

After 10 days of this dreadful anxiety and not getting enough sleep, I had to come to the conclusion that I had to focus on myself and postpone the milestones for my website and blog to October, after my trip.

"Time to practice what you preach", I told myself.

I keep telling everyone around me that real self-care is about doing less, not more, and about checking-in with oneself and know what really matters right now.

Well, may I say, this was not an easy decision to make. Despite knowing it was the right thing to do, and realising that I had to be honest with myself if I want to be able to say this sort of things to my clients, a big part of me felt that I had to publish my new website and blog.

Even if none even knew about it except the marketing expert and I. Even if, realistically, people don't care about when my new website is up. I felt that I had to do it.

I still don't think we see enough genuine stories of business owners, especially sole traders, putting their health before their business.

Even in the health and wellbeing industry, it is so easy to forget that there is no business if the business owner gets unwell. I hope this makes other sole traders out there feel less alone and a little bit more entitled to following your own rhythm.

Whatever situation you are in at the moment, be kind to yourself. You're doing your best every day, and it's enough.

If you cannot see you are doing your best and you instead feel anxiety and struggle to cope every day, perhaps counselling could help. Contact me for a free 15 minutes chat to explore working together.