This week in the Refocus on Wellness group, I asked this question, “what needs to be burned to the ground to make space for something new?”
Everyone who attended took a deep dive into vulnerability and was honest with themselves. Some folks mentioned needing to let go of other people’s expectations of them. They feel stressed out having to live up to some ridiculous ideal standard of themselves. Creating boundaries around work life and home life is a common theme among our members. It takes time to shift the mindset and lean into the belief that it’s okay that they can not be all things to all people. Others identified with the need to change their mindset around what their day should look like. And to allow room for more joy and time for spontaneous things to take place rather than being overscheduled.
One of the things for me that needs to be “burned down” is the entrepreneur hustle. I’m a “pull up your bootstraps and get back on that horse” type of girl. Some would say I’m resilient. But I’m also exhausted. My yoga studio was closed for 14 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I shifted to virtual classes immediately, teaching myself how to use zoom and create the best virtual environment for my clients with lighting, cameras, microphones, and internet speeds. We opened to in-person classes on May 10th, 2021, right when the rest of the world began to open its doors as well. So many of my clients put their memberships on hold to travel for the summer. Meanwhile, my rent was increased.
I’m exhausted from trying to keep my yoga studio afloat during the last year of the pandemic but also right now while I struggle to make ends meet.
I’m exhausted from pivoting.
So next week I’m taking a few days off from teaching yoga and seeing private clients. I rented a house on the water, and I’m going there by myself to write. I’m burning down the idea in my head that resilience is my superpower. Exhaustion is not healthy. Being overwhelmed is not a status symbol. Entrepreneurs who grind away their life on their work is not who I want to be.
I want to make room for my dream of finishing this book because I already have an idea for a second book that I’m excited to write.
What do you need to burn to the ground in order to make room for something new?