What Stops You From Achieving Your Dreams?

Have you ever been on an airplane and heard the flight attendant explain that in the event of a drop in the cabin air pressure, everyone has to put their mask on before helping anyone else?

There’s a good reason for this - if you don’t take care of yourself first, you risk being unable to help anyone else.

Think about that for a minute. Putting your mask on first helps extend your ability to serve.

Yet, when working with aspiring and established Virtual Assistants who haven’t achieved the success they crave, I find they do the opposite of what the flight attendant instructs. They give every bit of energy to their clients and neglect themselves and their businesses. They end up barely breathing instead of thriving.

Many people have been raised to think putting their needs before others is selfish. For some, it’s deeply ingrained. If that’s you, I want you to consider shifting your mindset because you can’t grow a sustainable, thriving business when you ignore your own needs.

When you don’t care for yourself, you have nothing to give. Period. You’re exhausted, stressed out, unhealthy, and unhappy.

As someone who had to learn this important lesson the hard way, here are the key elements of self-care that will enable you to have a thriving business:

1. Build a support system. Surround yourself with like-minded people who support your desire for a successful business. Find an expert with the experience you need to guide and teach you. Consider having an accountability partner you can count on.
    
2. Set boundaries. It’s not up to your clients to respect your boundaries; it’s up to you to respect yourself and maintain your boundaries. When you start working with clients, it’s natural to want to please them. They say jump, and you ask how high.
   
   And then you wonder why they’re asking you to jump all day and night! It’s because you’ve shown them through your behavior that you will. More on this topic here.
    
3. Teach the voice in your head to be kind. Everyone has a voice in their head that talks to them. It’s completely normal. But until you learn to manage the voice, it causes damage and harm and keeps you stuck.
   
   Pushing the voice away or trying to ignore it will only make it louder and stronger. Instead, what you’ve got to do is make friends with the voice and teach it how you want to be spoken to. More on this topic here.
    
4. Eat good food and exercise every day. To have a thriving business, you need energy and focus, which requires proper nutrition and moving your body. Get outside every day for some fresh air. If exercise is new to you, start by taking a one-mile walk and build on more distance over time.
   
   Schedule your meal times on your calendar and plan your menus ahead of time. It’s difficult to make good decisions when you’re starving.

If you’re telling yourself you don’t have time for these suggestions, cut it out and make the time. Tackle one new habit at a time and give yourself grace as you incorporate it into your life.

Running a thriving business is a marathon, not a sprint. Give yourself the best chance of creating the success you want by taking care of you.

If you’re not already a member of our Facebook Group, The Virtual Assistant Connection, and would like to join, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com