Your Most Precious Resource

“We think millions needs to come from sacrificing and grinding but the TRUTH is, it comes from us honoring ourselves.” – Aimee Johanen

A lot of small business culture right now, especially but not limited to online businesses and gig economy, is built on the idea that you have to work endlessly – grind – in order to succeed. This is absolutely not true, and it is a really toxic mindset to fall into!

Why am I bringing this up on a website about fiber artistry? Because as a small businessperson and an artist, this mindset is pervasive and I’ve fallen for it before; what’s worse, this mindset is the antithesis of actual creative work, because you NEED rest in order to be your best self, your higher self.

Your Higher Self is the best possible version of you. To honor your Higher Self means that you are actively taking steps to be the best you that you can be. Part of that work is also making sure that you support yourself with self care, because that serves your Higher Self.

I wanted to comment on a few things I talk about in this video!

1. The S.O.S. Club: This is an amazing coaching group that I am a member of, run by Michelle Rohr with Aimee Johanan. We take a topic each quarter and thoroughly work through it, and this month we are addressing Stepping Into Your Higher Self. This was so timely, as it has been something I’ve been working on addressing in myself since I started recovering from falling ill last year.
   The S.O.S. Club has been an amazing resource for change for me, so I wanted to make sure that I mentioned it here. And for my business oriented followers, I can’t recommend this enough.
   If you want to learn more, please feel free to click here [this is an affiliate link]: https://xiane001–secret-owl-society.thrivecart.com/sos-club/?ref=nl0813
2. I will be posting more videos and posts dealing with this topic – look for the tag #higherself
3. Some things I’m doing to honor my higher self – getting new glasses & higher end, all natural shampoo and conditioner for my curls.
4. It’s really difficult to escape a scarcity mindset! This is a big part of a lifelong effort to reprogram myself. I’ve finally, truly realized “I can do what I want to do, in the way that I want to do it, and still be financially supported” – in great part to my Patreon, but also just by selling and teaching and supporting other artists in a way that feels organic, comfortable, and equitable.
5. “I am worth these things” – a huge mindset shift that makes room for what I want to happen to actually happen. Here’s me fighting scarcity mindset right before your eyes!
6. We are so used to taking our needs and desires and making them small. We all too often put other people’s needs and desires in front of our own because that’s what we think that’s what we need to do. You need to be able to take care of yourself first in order to be able to take care of others.  
7. This doesn’t serve us, and hence it doesn’t serve anybody. And it brings shame and depression. You have to live up to your creative potential and honor yourself first before you can do that for other people. 

So you might be thinking, “What does this have to do with fiber arts, Xiane?” Honestly? Everything! Even if you don’t have a fiber arts business, you can’t maintain creativity if you don’t keep filling your well as you spill out that energy. It’s impossible to be an artist for long if you don’t make room for your needs.

So I need you to consider this: what can you do for your Higher Self this week? Take note of how you feel when you take those actions. Think about what you would tell your best friend when they express how much they want something but they think they don’t deserve it. [because all too often that’s what we really mean when we say something is too expensive or excessive.]

Let me leave you with a little quote from me for you to think on, as well.

“The antithesis of art is a need for approval.”

– Xiane