Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
This is a hard one at times and I still feel like I’m finding my handle on it all. I’ve always been a bit of a workaholic. Now that I have a family though, it’s much easier for me to draw that line between work and family time.
The real question is how do you factor in rest too?! I’m sure many of you reading this can relate to the struggle of making space for and nourishing yourself. When you have a family to look after, you learn so much about nurturing the kids, your spouse – your family, that sometimes it’s easy to forget to nurture ourselves!
Since realising this, I’ve really made an effort to take myself to other teachers’ yoga classes, attend women’s circles, do something active like ocean swimming for myself and even just spend time with really good friends (even if it is online!). All these things have a really positive effect on me and it’s definitely something to remember to do.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Maintaining the drive itself was one of the biggest challenges! Having worked in a corporate environment for the first half of my twenties – with a clear structure, a team around me and someone to hold me accountable (my boss!), it’s been a big gear shift to suddenly become my own boss. Now I’m the one 100% holding me accountable. And you know what – I think my yoga practice and training as a yoga teacher is part of what got me through that. When you learn to meditate or learn certain breathing techniques, it’s up to you to a) do the work and b) figure out what you need to say to yourself to calm down, or feel good, or just go to a better space in your mind. And it’s exactly the same when you are running a business. Sometimes you’re not going to feel like it, but you’ll need to show up anyway – give yourself a pep talk, settle your mind, take it to the place it needs to be and keep going.
I have learnt that it takes time to build a business and it also takes someone in charge who will show up every single day. Just like a yoga practice – for all you yogis tuning in! We just have to show up and do the work. Consistency is key – and things are not going to be perfect all the time – but by showing up and doing it and by letting go of perfection, we can get into the groove and reach the flow state we all crave to be in!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are:
- Being able to structure my days the way I want – which means great flexibility for the family
- Being able to write about things that fire me up, that are interesting to me, and things that I’m passionate about
- … and then that leads me to being able to do something I am so passionate about every single day and share that with others
The cons are:
- Feeling like I don’t know what I’m doing some of the time
- Working solo and not being able to bounce ideas off other people – I didn’t realise how much I love working in a team until I started my own business. There are solutions to this of course. I’ve signed up to a local co-working space and regularly work from my friend’s new cafe, The Loft, in Ostend.
- Being around people and meeting with my mentor really helps!
- Imposter Syndrome! It’s real, but it’s real in any job. (I recommend an amazing podcast to help with this – The Imposter’s Club by Sinéad Kennedy Krebs & Melissa Murdock.)
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Keep singing, keep moving, keep learning, keep growing!
I’m currently creating a 6-week programme for women who are struggling with anxiety, feeling stuck, or even with that voice in their head telling them that they can’t – a programme that uses sound, vibration and the voice to help them step into confidence, empowerment and shift their emotional state.
I’ll also be working a lot more on my social content in the near future – so head on over to Instagram for bitesize tips, yoga, singing videos and inspo to keep us all going – wherever we are on our journeys!
To find out more about Patience and the services she offers, visit her website and join her supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
