Fall Reset: From Fear to Renewed Purpose

This summer was... back to kids all day. As most of you know, holding the beautiful chaos of entrepreneurship with the equally beautiful (and sometimes even more chaotic) reality of parenthood, summer can throw a wrench in the best-laid plans. This year, with the kids home during the day, I made the conscious decision to put a significant amount of my business work aside. Was it for quality family time, for slower mornings, for ice cream before noon? Sure. But mainly I cannot focus on anything with children in my hair! And beneath the surface my fears started to stir…

Without the consistent rhythm of strategic planning and creation, fear began to creep in. Fears I had been surprised hadn’t bothered me yet! Can I truly make this vision a reality? Am I equipped to navigate the demands of this work? Have I lost touch with my unique spark? By early fall, my capacity and my confidence was completely diminished, culminating in feeling very lost and overwhelmed.

It was terrible. I hadn’t felt that low in several years. I'd begun building this business on passion and a fierce belief in myself, but this summer hiatus, however intentional, chipped away at that foundation. The isolation of entrepreneurship is real, and when you add the unique bubble of summer parenting, it can feel even more profound.

So, I did something that felt both vulnerable and incredibly necessary: I reached out. I let friends know I was struggling with these doubts, that the summer pause was unexpectedly shaking my confidence. Tell you what, for me, that demonstrates huge amounts of growth. So that alone helped. And the response was incredibly sweet and turned it all around.

I got offers for assistance and messages of solidarity. Three incredible women who have been there (the juggle, the self-doubt, the unique challenges of trying to grow a business while also growing young humans, and building something from the career devastation of long term motherhood) gave me hours of their time lifting me up, redirecting me and instilling hope and faith and confidence and inspiration. It’s been a much needed and  powerful reminder that I am not alone in this journey and I am just as capable as anyone new to an endeavor. If those women believe in me, then I believe in me! And yes, I need those training wheels right now!

Now I’m feeling a renewed sense of clarity and a refined focus that I honestly didn't anticipate. This summer, with its unexpected dips into self-doubt, ultimately became a powerful catalyst. I’m stepping back into my business with a fresh perspective, an even deeper belief in myself, and an incredible appreciation for the community that reminds us we're never truly alone on this journey. Grateful.