If you're feeling overwhelmed doing all the things ooof you are not alone... {Open up}
Open up join my FREE Mindful AF Productivity workshop in 5 days!? & there ways I can help
Hey there, builders!
We're just five days away from the Mindful AF productivity workshop! {RSVP HERE} I'm thrilled as I update the workshop slides and prepare the exercises. But I'm also terrified. Every time I reflect on my talks and content, I think, "OMG, who is she?" The truth is, I'm a huge weenie—I'm scared of everything.
Warning I’m about to get very real….
People are often surprised when they meet me and I share my mental health challenges. They say, "But you do so much, take so many risks, and seem fine." It has taken time and a lot of tools, but that doesn't mean the challenges have gone away. They are still very real on some days...
My anxiety used to be debilitating. I would experience panic attacks while walking through the streets of NYC and even during workdays. I had to keep smiling, keep going, and keep working until I burned out. Depression would inevitably appear. Ten years ago, I finally decided I was tired and sought help.
I could travel the world, meet amazing people, and achieve great things in my career. However, interacting with people one-on-one in a familiar setting terrified me. Just being myself—a big-haired brown girl who wasn't "supposed to" be in those circles—made me anxious.
As I feel terrified about this workshop, I think back to when I had a similar feeling about eight years ago. I had been in therapy and after almost two years, agreed to see a psychiatrist. I remember carrying my emotional support Xanax (which, to be honest, I didn't always like because it made me drowsy and resented but carried for the very real breakdowns I would have).
I recall standing outside of a meetup, thinking, "Everyone is going to hate me." I applied some of the skills I had been learning—reframing and accepting. Okay, what if they do hate me? What can I do? Well, I can leave. And even in the worst-case scenario of a meltdown, I had tools to support me (although I didn't particularly like them because they made me drowsy). Now, what if... no one hated me? What if I went in and actually made a friend? What if I had a great time...
And guess what? That's exactly what happened. I went in prepared for the worst-case scenario, with my support in place, knowing I could leave if needed, armed with tools. That was one of the last times I needed my Xanax. I realized that the world wasn't as scary as I thought, and perhaps people weren't as scary either. By pushing myself in tiny steps outside my comfort zone, I discovered that I could meet incredible people at home, just like I had during my travels.
So, why am I sharing this? Because life isn't perfect. Because there will always be scary moments. Because even I feel scared every day. But the key is learning how to understand your energy, comfort yourself, and move through those low moments with intention.
Admitting this to you here is scary for me. I've done (and am still doing) therapy, sought help from doctors, and worked on healing my past. I relied on books and self-improvement, but it wasn't until I hired my first coach five years ago that I truly started moving forward with actionable tools. I realized I needed support, and that's okay. It's also why I realized I can help others...
I've been doing business coaching for two years now (I just realized) but life happens. That's why I decided to get my life coaching certification to better support my clients. However, I used to think that I had to be perfect before helping anyone else. What I've come to realize is that I've helped many people—not despite my daily struggles with ADHD, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but because of them.
I'm human, and I understand. I can empathize and offer compassion. I know what it's like to need someone to simply see me, not just tell me, "You're going to be fine." I provide tools when needed so that others can build the life and business they want.
Because I've learned the hard way, I know that it's possible to work towards what you want without pushing yourself beyond your capacity. It's about honoring yourself and finding what works for you in each moment, seeking the support you need.
And sometimes, having those frameworks is exactly what we need.
So, I'm sharing this because I realize that this is the moment where I need to keep sharing my workshop and hope that the right person comes along. What if that younger version of me attends and it's exactly what she needed at that time?
What if I had the tools I have now to support me in my journey of self-understanding back then?
What if the younger version of me is out there and just needs this added tool and by keeping my self small, I can’t reach her? What if the people who have helped me on my journey had stayed small…
What if this is the start of something better….
So, here it is—me, terrified but excited—to invite you to my free workshop this Tuesday (Replays will be available for 48 hours)
And if group settings aren't your thing or you're not ready for a coach, I'm offering a 1-on-1 intensive energy + time audit. I'm here to serve as your soundboard. Let's do a full brain dump together, explore everything you have going on, identify activities that drain and replenish your energy, and create a plan and schedule that make sense for you. Book your spot here.
With so much love & kindness,
Joy Valerie Carrera