Let's talk about navigating entrepreneurial anxiety. If you are an entrepreneur with anxiety, you may be struggling in many facets of your business, the first, creating a personal brand. Other areas anxiety may be holding you back include being present on social media, creating videos, writing blogs, scheduling sales calls, and building relationships.
It's also possible that fear resulting from anxiety is keeping you in a cycle of procrastination.
How to change your thoughts as an entrepreneur with anxiety I just provided a summary of my 5 C's of journaling method for navigating anxiety. To learn more you can read, You, Me, and Anxiety. But something important to note is that if we want it to, our faith can come before our thoughts. We can look to faith to influence our thoughts.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." We can certainly pray and give our anxiety to God. He can help us navigate anxiety if we trust Him and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, guide us, and give us patience and wisdom.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul writes "Finally, brothers, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
If we follow Paul's advice, we will think more positively and hopefully have fewer negative thoughts that result in limiting beliefs, deflated emotions, and inaction.
Yes, anxiety will cause negative, fearful thoughts to creep into the minds of anxious entrepreneurs, but if you are an entrepreneur with anxiety, you can take action to start controlling your thoughts.
It isn't easy and it takes time. You have to make this a daily practice. Using the 5 C's journaling method alongside prayer is empowering along with the other strategies I'll mention shortly.
Start flipping the script in your mind. When a negative what if pops up, change it to a positive what if. I think you'll see a change in your anxiety levels and you'll definitely see a change in your productivity and results.
Here are a few things you can do to help you navigate your anxiety on your journey of entrepreneurship. - Stop mindless scrolling
One of the best things you can do to decrease anxiety as an entrepreneur is to stop comparing yourself to others who are steps ahead of you. In fact, stop comparing yourself to anyone. You are on a journey of one, a journey of you. God has placed this calling, your purpose, on your heart. He knows that you have the talents, gifts, and abilities to accomplish what he's called you for.
Be compassionate with yourself, the way you would be compassionate with your best friend. Set realistic expectations, not expectations based on what you see people doing online.
- Implement the 5 C's journaling method for anxiety
- Catch
- Challenge
- Change
- Control
- Confidence
- Step away
- When you are feeling anxious, step away from your work. Give yourself time to reset. Go for a walk, read a book, listen to music, get creative, pray, meditate, call a friend whom you know will be a positive light in your day.
- Set manageable goals
- Be realistic and compassionate when you set your goals. Start with 90-day goals, not annual goals. Break your 90-day goals down into three parts, one per month, and then break those down to three big tasks per month. Doing this will help you stay focused on smaller tasks, get to scratch them off your to-do list, and not become overwhelmed by increased anxiety, which may result in more procrastination.
- Create healthy habits
The healthier your lifestyle, the healthier your mind will be.
- Eat a healthy well-balanced diet
- Exercise
- Drink plenty of water
- Get 8 hours of sleep each night
- Journal
- Meditate
- Do daily devotions
Download my free guild to alleviate anxiety by creating healthy habits for a healthy mind.
- Practice Gratitude
Creating a gratitude practice will help you navigate anxiety. How? Because you will begin to see all of the blessings you have, all of the things you've done right, the people who are supporting you or hiring you, how brave and talented you truly are.
The more you practice gratitude, the more your brain will begin to see the positives around you and in your business and life and you won't go to that negative place of what-ifs as quickly. This takes time and practice, but it really does help you see the positives even in the worst scenarios in your business.
Case in point. I have recently been on a PR frenzy because my book, You, Me, and Anxiety is publishing on March 15th. A local paper picked up my story. The article went out and there were errors. I could have focused on the errors and been extremely disappointed that the article wasn't perfect. But I chose to be grateful that the article was published, and more people are going to learn about me and the book, which means more people will have help with navigating their anxiety. And, I took that moment to thank the writer and asked if she could change the digital article. She did. Sometimes, if we can just stay calm and be grateful for the moment everyone wins.
- Ditch perfectionism
Perfectionism is going to lead you to procrastination, which will lead you to paralysis. Sometimes, perfectionism begins with comparison, but often, it starts with anxiety and the innate need to do everything perfectly to avoid negative consequences.
Realize that as entrepreneurs, we all do things wrong. And that is the beauty of entrepreneurship. We make mistakes and learn from them. We fail and must pick ourselves up. But if we never make mistakes or fail, we aren't learning, we aren't growing, and we'll never fully know what it's like to succeed. No one expects you to be perfect. Courteous, yes. Professional, yes. Authentic, yes. But perfect, no!
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