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4 Ways Women Entrepreneurs Can Overcome Limiting Beliefs

Well, the truth is entrepreneurship can be a very rewarding, fulfilling, and lucrative endeavor, but it can also be a very frustrating, overwhelming, and isolating experience too.

Photo: Lisa Marie Pepe; Credit: Jacqueline Tower
Photo: Lisa Marie Pepe; Credit: Jacqueline Tower

There are many perks to being an entrepreneur. For all intents and purposes, you get to:

  • set your own hours (generally speaking),
  • make your own rules,
  • work from wherever you choose, and
  • be your own boss.

Sounds amazing, right?

Well, the truth is entrepreneurship can be a very rewarding, fulfilling, and lucrative endeavor, but it can also be a very frustrating, overwhelming, and isolating experience too. Self-limiting beliefs can wreak havoc on your life, especially when you first start a business and work hard to become an entrepreneur.

To maintain an optimistic outlook and positive attitude during these times, implementing one or more of these four strategies can be very helpful.

 

1. Start with an attitude of gratitude

Keeping a gratitude journal is also an excellent way of practicing gratitude. Ideally, carving out a few minutes at the beginning or end of the day to write down the people, things, and experiences you’re grateful for helps to keep things in perspective.

Another option is to simply say, “Thank you!” throughout the course of the day each time you experience something that brings you joy. Taking a hot shower, eating a nutritious meal, or just laughing with a friend are all examples of things one may be grateful for. At the end of a tough day, a little gratitude goes a long way and can change your perspective immensely.

 

2. Cultivate a positive mindset

Practice one of the following techniques: prayer, mindfulness-based meditation, or visualization exercises. Sitting quietly with your eyes closed for five to ten minutes a day while breathing in and out deeply is a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself. It’s also a practical way to stay focused in the present moment. It gives you a chance to tune out the noise of the day.

During this sacred time, if you’re natural tendency is to speak to God, by all means speak to Him. If you find you enjoy listening to uplifting music, listen to music. If you find inspiration through visual imagery, find a space in nature that brings you peace. The whole point is to create a sacred space for yourself each day that helps you to feel grounded.

 

3. Schedule time for self-care

Self-care is non-negotiable. Taking time to prepare and eat nutritious meals, getting adequate quality sleep and engaging in some sort of vigorous exercise each day are all examples of self-care. Many new entrepreneurs are hesitant to take time away from working on their business (and with good reason).

An all-encompassing desire to escape an office cubicle and break free from “trading hours for dollars” mentality, can make many new entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed. There are an infinite number of daily tasks to complete and determination to be successful (no matter what) sometimes overrides the sensibility to practice self-care. The best way to avoid this common pitfall is to schedule self-care each day and adhere to it as you would any other task.

 

4. Surround yourself with like-minded people

Get around positive, like-minded people who share the same vision as you and those who understand the spirit of entrepreneurship. One of the biggest obstacles for new entrepreneurs is learning how to cultivate new relationships with others who understand the journey.

In short, it takes courage to venture out on your own and you will encounter your fair share of naysayers. It’s incredibly difficult to tune out the negativity, especially if it comes from your immediate family, spouse, or friends.

To counter this, find extended support networks of entrepreneurs both online and at in-person networking events. When you find the right network, stay with it. No doubt these are the folks who will be there to support you every step of the way on your entrepreneurial journey.

 

In short, it takes an immense amount of courage to ditch the status quo, leave the 9-5 behind, and take a deep dive into entrepreneurship. Recognize that challenges, self-doubt, and overwhelm are all par for the course of entrepreneurship.

Practice gratitude, engage in a positive mindset practice, schedule routine self-care, and find or create a tribe of positive and uplifting people who will be there to support you along the way. At the end of a tough day, utilizing even just one of these strategies may be all that you need to refocus, regain your composure, and keep going.

 

This article has been edited and condensed.

Lisa Marie Pepe, Owner and founder of Positive Transformation Life Coaching, is the confidence and online visibility coach for heart-centered women entrepreneurs, a business mentor, inspirational author, and motivational speaker. Lisa Marie empowers heart-centered women entrepreneurs to fully embrace their unique gifts and talents by providing them with the skills they need to develop rock-solid confidence, become vibrantly visible online, thrive in business, and create the life they most desire. Connect with @PTPWC on Twitter.

 

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