The One Thing No Entrepreneur Wants to Talk About
Let me tell you a little secret about the entrepreneur life.
While every business owner wants you to believe that it’s all glitz and glam — and if I’m being honest with you, I want you to believe that too — it’s not.
It’s so hard.
You make gigantic sacrifices. For the last few years, I have sacrificed countless weekends with friends so I could finish the final edits on an author’s book. I have given up so much money every quarter to Uncle Sam. I have lost all the free time a twentysomething should have so that Curiouser Editing could succeed.
And even with all that purposeful sacrifice, I still found myself in a pit this year. Maybe you’ve met my little friend that not one single entrepreneur wants to talk about.
Depression.
No one wants to talk about her because she doesn’t fit into our box of #bossbabe and #workhardplayhard and #entrepreneurlife.
Either you’ve already felt the gentle pull of Depression’s hands, coaxing you to follow her, to stay in bed for just today, to ignore your work for a little while longer.
Or you’ve fallen headfirst, diving in to the great pit Depression created for you. And you’ve never felt more stuck in your whole life.
You see, entrepreneurs do what they do because it was their dream, their calling, their passion. And they don’t ever want to stop someone else from doing the same because they were tricked into the pit by Depression.
“Why didn’t I see her coming?” you think. “I’m pushing toward my dream, so why am I so unhappy? How could I let this happen?”
Depression is a persuasive little minx. She knows just when to come around. She sees you as your fingers pull along the strands of your hair while you calculate this month’s expenses for the third time, and no, no, it just can’t be right. She sees the tears stream down your hot cheeks, because this is the last straw. You’re barely making it as it is, you haven’t seen your family in weeks, and now you can’t make rent? So Depression creeps under the door, sliding her way into your bedroom, over the covers, and into the most intimate place: your mind.
And she drags you away.
But what you don’t realize is that you can fight her off.
Here’s what to do when Depression enters your mind:
Recognize that you are falling into the pit.
Ask for help. Let go of your pride and ask someone you trust to help you get out of it. Be real with this person and don’t hold back.
Take action and grab their hand. Let them help you out.
Take a break for a little bit to clear your mind. It’s okay to have some time to yourself. It’s not selfish—it’s quite the opposite.
Talk to God. Tell Him how you feel. Ask for guidance.
Sleep. Please, get some rest.
Go outside. Get some vitamin D. Spend time with your family. Do something that has nothing to do with your business.
Once your mind is clear, reprioritize. What is it that’s really causing you to stress? Lack of funds? Too much work? Not enough help? Figure it out and fix it. There is always a solution to a problem. You just have to be willing to put in the time to find it.
Finally, get back to work. The worst thing you can do when you’re depressed is to stop everyday activities.
And if after all of this, you find yourself returning to Depression’s cogent voice, realize that you’re not all alone after all. We’ve all been there.
By the way, earlier this year when I was depressed, not talking about it was the worst thing I could’ve done. Once I finally said something and started reprioritizing how I lived my life, I watched Depression fade away in the distance, her tempting voice nothing but a hushed murmur, a forgotten memory.
An expert editor, seasoned writer, and author-centric coach, Shayla Eaton works one-on-one with self-published authors, having edited three hundred books. She is the president of Curiouser Editing, where she offers top-notch publishing guidance for authors and their books.
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