There are of course times when things don’t go as smoothly as hoped. There have been times I’ve been interrupted by barking dogs and a hungry child mid-session with a client, but most clients are accepting of this, and I always have an allowance either side of sessions in part for this reason. Some days, admin is done curled up on the couch with an unwell child watching a movie and other times, it is put off until the house is quiet in the late hours of the night.
I’m a firm believer that you just have to do things in a way that works for you and fits the life you want to have – sometimes it’s just organised chaos. It’s not always smooth sailing. There are times I haven’t been as present with the family as I would have liked to have been and at other times, I’ve put the business on the back burner to focus on family but that’s what balance is about, right. That’s why the Yin/Yang symbol isn’t simply a circle split perfectly in half.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Inevitably there can be more outgoing expenses than incoming money so sustaining the business during quiet times can be a bit stressful. It’s been a slow start trying to get a wellbeing business started in the middle of not only one of the biggest wellbeing events of our time, but also difficult financial times for many. Although wellbeing is much more in the minds of the nation, converting that into paying customers when everyone is feeling the financial pinch has been difficult.
Part of the problem is that the wellbeing market, as lucrative as it is, is well saturated with various practitioners from the strictly clinical to the purely metaphysical. I sit in the middle in that I use techniques from both realms. I connect the clinical and spiritual where they intersect, where the spiritual potential is backed by neuroscientific changes in the brain and body. So, in ways, my practice may be too spiritual for those looking for clinical support and too clinical for those looking for a more spiritual experience.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
For the majority, running my own business has been amazing, but there are many aspects of running a business that require niche knowledge and skills which I don’t really have, but outsourcing those jobs can be really expensive. I’m a bit of a DIYer, so it’s been a fun and eye-opening crash course into web design, marketing and bookkeeping.
Being able to set my own hours and do what feels true to myself has been great. It’s allowed me to be more present with my family while doing work I love and am proud of. The satisfaction that comes from sharing my knowledge with others, seeing them reach goals and manage their mental health is the biggest reward so far in this business. However, the flip side of that is that there’s no strong external motivation from bosses to get things done. You have to rely on your own motivation to succeed and stay up to date. I’ve found this motivation ebbs and flows and it can be difficult to keep the flow going and stay engaged and authentic with social posts and blogs.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My goal for this year is to increase the sustainability of the business by expanding our client base, introducing group classes and bringing more of our product range inhouse. One of the shortcomings of coaching is that, when done well, you may only need to see a client for a month or two (4-8 sessions). This means keeping a steady stream of clients can be difficult, so building a strong flow of clients is definitely on our list for this year. I also hope to be able to introduce both in-person and online group classes this year for those looking to experience breathwork and mindfulness in a group setting.
After that is hopefully a psychology internship (to become a registered psychologist), which involves a year of training and supervised psychology practice. Eventually, I’d like to set up a holistic wellbeing centre with a clinic, studio and gym bringing together passionate specialists in exercise, nutrition, yoga and other mental health practitioners.
Visit the Feeling for Healing website to find out more and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
