This time last year, life looked very different.
I was working with seven clients and had one, about to be two more on my waiting list. I was racing against a deadline to finish editing Gravel Roads. And I was preparing to host my very first Christmas party for nine of our friends in Sayulita.
Life felt full. And quite busy.
This December, all of those clients have happily graduated, I am working with two beautiful souls who came into my world this fall, the book {a life long dream} is published, and Ryan and I are looking forward to a quiet Christmas with a family we’ve become close with in Mexico.
As an individual living in a capitalist society, it’s easy to get down on myself when life and business appear to be shrinking rather than growing. It’s easy to make it mean that I am less successful than I was at this time last year and that there is something wrong with that.
In a society that pushes and rewards expansion, there is no room for contraction.
But if we look to nature, cycles and seasons are woven into the fabric of life. They exist outside of us, in the environment and they exist inside of us, in our biology.
In my early years of entrepreneurship, I struggled to accept this natural rhythm.
If my practice wasn’t expanding, I made it mean that I was failing and something was in need of fixing. This in turn made me feel defeated, doubtful, and hopeless—causing more contraction in the face of contraction.
Now, as a seasoned entrepreneur, I’ve come to understand that contraction is a natural part of business. Of course, I’m human, so it’s not always the most comfortable thing to be with, but I know and trust that it’s a normal part of the process, just like exhaling is to breathing or the shedding of leaves is to autumn. Another breath is bound to come and the trees will certainly bud again.
In the mean time, when I let go of the expectation and pressure to constantly expand, what’s left are the gifts inherent in slowing down.
With fewer clients, I’ve been able to dive deep into my studies with Trauma & Somatics. I’ve had more time to forge new connections and build out a strong referral network of practitioners who can meet the edges of my scope of practice. And I’ve had more time to be present with myself, my loved ones, and the wild, beautiful landscape I live in.
Life is not meant to be static, linear, or in a constant state of growth.
Life is ever-evolving.
And that’s something we can count on.
Expansion and contraction are reliable parts of evolution.
So instead of denying that seasons and cycles exist, how can you accept them, embrace them, and plan for them?
Intentionality.
Flexibility.
Resilience.
Creativity.
These are some of the factors that make or break us as entrepreneurs.
If you’re tired of going at this journey alone and you’d like support with navigating the emotional ups and downs, I am currently taking on new clients for January. Schedule your complimentary, no-obligation Clarity Call to determine if we’re a good fit.
With love & evolution,
-Kayla
P.S. Want to apply this insight to your own life? Reflect on the prompts below and see what comes up:
1.) How do cycles of expansion and contraction play out in your day, week, month, and year?
2.) If contraction is a natural part of business, how might you prepare financially, mentally, and emotionally for the metaphorical winters? Think about the non-human others we share our planet with. What wisdom do they have to share? For insight around how to financially prepare for leaner times, check out this blog I wrote back in 2018.
3.) What gifts become available to you during a period of contraction?
WANDER THE WORLD WITH ME?
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