Have you ever had a dream or goal but stopped yourself through not feeling good enough?
I have found that it is common for women, and especially neurodivergent women, to find themselves being held back by Imposter Syndrome and fear of the unknown. I know I held myself back from launching my sub boxes for a good year because I feared failure as much as I feared success. I struggle with my ability to cope when I feel overwhelmed because I never want to let people down.
I believe life is to be lived to the fullest, even in the adversity of other's unwanted opinions and it’s a good thing to strive for perfection, but not to the point where it paralyses you from trying.
Some writers believe the best thing to do when they have an attack of Writer's Block is get off the blank page and just write something, even if you rip it up later. Sometimes you just need to put one foot in front of the other and start! When something feels so big it often leads us to a freeze state and this is where we need to break the task down into more manageable chunks.
My personal experience being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life was the founding basis for my idea behind Unwind the Mind Wellness but an idea is just an idea until you begin at the beginning. Some of the first steps I took were backwards. I doubted myself and my ability to make this work and get this off the ground. Sure, the idea was a good one and was doable but initially I wondered if I had the capacity to run my own business whilst doing a nearly full time job and managing family and home commitments.
I did a lot of research and thinking, some more research, then some talking to other neurodivergent business owners and to my coach and mentor, to really talk through the idea at great lengths. It took me months before I really saw a way forward and I don’t regret a moment of it because every step brought me to where I am now.
The pilot boxes last year were my first real test and I managed to test two great boxes out and got some amazing feedback. However, in doing that whole process on my own I burnt out massively.
What really helped me was finding and building a collaborative and valuable team, a bit like when you have a baby and the saying goes that it takes village! I needed a support network to bounce ideas around as well as get the To Do list done.
When it came to launching the boxes after the pilot I realised it was no longer feasible to try and do everything myself. So adding OS Suffolk as my fulfilment company to the team was a no brainer. As a business owner it's important to be realistic about not just your skills but also your ability to deliver. As female business owners we don’t need to do it all by ourselves. The investment can be worth it not only for your peace of mind but from a very practical sense of me being only one person with the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else.
How it looks today makes me so proud. The boxes have launched and are now live to order on my website. It all feels very real and this too can be overwhelming, but in the most positive way! My first quarterly box went out last month and the feedback has been truly phenomenal.
Unwind The Mind Wellness is more than just a brand; it's a reflection of my journey embracing quirks, unlocking the woo within, and empowering neurodiverse women to find positivity in every step of their unique journey.
It is my goal to help the women who like me found themselves with their new diagnosis, find self acceptance, lose their mask and embrace the next chapter of life.
I'm so excited for you to join me in this adventure of self-acceptance and well-being.
More about my story read and for more about the boxes check out my FAQs.