Chronic Illness to Creative Entrepreneur

Today, I’m sharing a very personal post—the one that is closest to my heart.

I often hesitate to share my experience with chronic illnesses because I don’t want it to define me. Conversations at dinner or during casual playdates often turn to topics like dietary restrictions, headaches, or fatigue. In those moments, I find myself holding back, not wanting to be labeled the “sick girl.” I wrestle with the decision of whether to acknowledge my experiences or let them quietly linger in the background. It’s an ongoing tension between vulnerability and maintaining control over how I’m perceived.

I’ve also grappled with my feelings toward my body, swinging between gratitude and frustration. On some days, I understand autoimmune conditions as my body’s way of protecting itself, leading me to approach my physical health with grace and kindness. Other days, however, I feel anger and frustration because it can feel endless. Although I’m fortunate to generally avoid day-to-day symptoms or drastic adjustments to my quality of life, the exhausting part for me is the mental gymnastics I perform daily.

But this post isn’t just about that. Not exactly.

It’s about my challenges in business while healing from illness and navigating entrepreneurship. I want to highlight the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and creating a business that aligns with my values and well-being. Let’s embrace resilience, personal development, and the importance of intentional business-building—chronic disease or not!

Fear as a Business Owner with Chronic Illness

For a long time, I was terrified of success. 

I vividly remember when this fear first surfaced. After taking on a few coaching clients, I felt an immense sense of responsibility to deliver results, even on days when I didn’t feel my best. I sensed I was on the brink of something big, yet every time I approached that point, I would pull back, run, and hide. It became increasingly painful to remain stagnant, pretending I didn’t recognize my ambitions and possibilities. Instead of taking a leap and embodying the thriving business I was building, I found myself overwhelmed with fear.

My mind was consumed with worst-case scenarios: What if my business grows, and I can’t manage the responsibility? What if my health deteriorates, leading to canceled appointments and negative reactions from clients? What if my anxiety resurfaces, or brain fog clouds my work? I was trapped in a cycle of thinking where success equaled pain, criticism, and failure. I was exhausted—so damn tired of this mental battle. Yet, being a stubborn person who loves a challenge, I decided to fully commit to my business. At least that way, I would have no regrets.

For too long, I hadn’t truly chosen this path. I always had one foot out the door, ready to flee at the first sign of trouble or if things didn’t go as planned. It wasn’t until I consciously decided to embrace my role—to declare that this is my business and my mission on this planet—that I could finally accept my identity as a CEO.

So, What Changed? Simple Strategies in Moments of Doubt

How does embracing your identity foster lasting success, self-assurance, and self-love?

Let me take a moment to honour the younger version of myself who had the self-confidence and love to tackle anything. I was comfortable in my skin and didn’t let fear of how my body would react hold me back.

As we grow older, we often become more cautious and considerate of our physical limitations. Anyone here who used to ski like a maniac and now feels nervous at the ski lift? I totally get it.

But this is different. 

I was so tired of feeling sorry for myself that I simply frustrated myself out of it. My lowest point came years ago when I told myself that if chronic disease was going to be the thing that ultimately brought me down, I’d rather live fully up to the very last day than waste time worrying and doing nothing. It’s really that simple.

I began working on reconnecting with the young girl I once was. She’s still here, and nothing has changed. I miss her, and I promised myself to stop shaming or judging myself for where I am today. This positive attitude, focused on the core of who I am gives me a lot of peace and stability. 

Autoimmune Disease and Its Unique Challenges

One of the most frustrating things of living with an autoimmune disease is finding the balance between being gentle and patient with my body while also cultivating an unshakeable inner strength. It’s exhausting.

Can I do it? 

Should I do it?

What will happen if I do?

In business, decisions should ideally be made as business decisions. However, when you have a chronic condition, every choice impacts your body, not just your bottom line.

In the context of chronic illness, I’ve often thought, “I have an illness, so I can’t run a business or lead a fulfilling, impactful life.” Yet, I’ve learned to embrace the idea that I can be both: gentle and powerful, fiery and unapologetic in expressing my desires. When I can’t, I won’t. It doesn’t always have to be the same pattern.

Boundless Potential and Biggest Lessons: Erasing Definitions and Limitations

This is how I’ve chosen to move forward. It’s my way of life. 

While I can’t ignore certain symptoms when they arise, and I need to slow down during those times, the majority of my decisions are made as though my illness doesn’t impact them. I know some decisions will be influenced, while others won’t, but I’ve done just fine in the past by assuming my illness won’t dictate my choices and then adjusting as necessary.

I find I’m in a much better space—both as an entrepreneur and a woman—when I navigate my days without feeling sorry for myself or worrying about things that haven’t happened and may never happen.

In a world where hustle culture often prevails, I’m learning the benefits of sustainable ways of working that honor my energy levels. It’s all about embracing resilience, the power of determination, and the unique challenges faced by chronic illness entrepreneurs. I’m committed to cultivating a thriving business, where I can be my own boss, balancing family life, and nurturing my mental health.

If you’re interested in exploring this topic further or want to join chat some more avout it, I offer a free exclusive weekly email series that dives into these themes. It’s not a part of my regular newsletter because I’ve made a conscious decision to not make my business about chronic disease in an effort to focus on the tools and resources that we all need, regardless of our health. Let’s create a community where we acknowledge the invisible battles we face, share our successes, and embrace our boundless potential. Together, we can redefine what it means to be a business owner with chronic illness and thrive in our own unique ways.

If you want to read a bit more about how I navigate my day to day, you can head over here. Its a post all about my daily routines, happiness and mindful practice managing the different aspects of living with chronic illness. 

Since you’re here and have gotten this far in this post, I want to offer you a little gift. When you subscribe to the mailing list, you’ll receive a promo code for 10% ANY service on the site.

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