Beyond the Grind: Harmonizing High Ambition and Deep Self-Care

If you're anything like me and your life has been full throttle for over a decade, please keep reading and, most importantly, know that you’re not alone!

I want to preface this by saying I live the life of my dreams on a daily basis. I do what I love, and I am passionately invested in all the endeavors I've embarked on so far. It truly blows my mind daily to look at my life from a bird’s eye view, witnessing it from a higher vantage point, and realizing that the things I've written down, the milestones I've set out to reach, have been achieved. I can truly say I am living my manifestations.

I can also say the road hasn’t been the perfectly paved path I hoped and dreamed of. Just like anything, there are highs and lows, many learning lessons, setbacks, and delays. It's the true epitome of perfectly imperfect, but just as beautiful, if not more, than I could have imagined. On the journey, you learn how to build endurance, not only on the fresh asphalt but on the gravel, dirt, and sand. All terrains require different stamina. To get to the other side you have to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other. 

In the entrepreneurial journey, there are phases that are acceptable and needed to get you to the point of living out your dreams. There are seasons where you need to be rigid, imaginative, with both feet on the gas, and you very presently steering the ship in the right direction—you’re in control of the direction. The biggest lesson I have had to learn in my journey is when it's time to take your foot off the gas. When is it time to keep the vision but be willing to let it unfold without so much of your control? When is it time to coast on neutral? When is it time to slow down and refuel?

Not knowing when to slow down, when to refuel, and when to let go and trust in the work you’ve put in can cause a fork in the road. If you make the wrong turn, you could miss the gas station and easily completely run out of fuel—AKA burnout!

Unconsciously writing endless lists and checking them off to feel a sense of accomplishment, I was married to the idea that determination and constant effort were the only keys to living a successful life. “The more I do, the more successful I will be,” I told myself. Occasionally crashing and sinking into my couch for a whole day to “recover,” but more often, I was ruthlessly jamming my schedule full with not only work but also social plans on top of it with the idea of “I can’t always just be working; I need to have fun too.”

Man, recollecting my recent past brings back memories of how disconnected I really was from the true meaning of living consciously and being tuned into my body. I was masked by toxic work habits and the illusion of alcohol. Fast forward to present day, I find myself so tuned into myself. I wake up and do a body scan meditation daily. I have a consistent sleep schedule. I shut my computer and turn “off” at a consistent time during the week (I won’t act like this is totally perfect; my fellow entrepreneurs know that work-life “balance” is a pendulum that is constantly swinging, but I have more awareness and I presently make those choices). I am selective about the social and “extracurricular” plans that I make, and if my body needs rest, then that's what it gets.

For the first time in 10 years, I am living the most embodied I have lived in my whole adult life. In life, the things that sound like the simplest fixes are typically the hardest to wrap your head around. It sounds so simple to set work boundaries, exercise 4-5 times per week, get proper sleep, meditate, do breath work, etc. But when you have been living in a state of survival without even being aware of it, your mind and body need to relearn how to work together, and honestly, that can be hard work! Your mind has to undo the decade of programming that “the more you do, the more successful you will be” or “get off the couch, you have so much to do” or “you don’t deserve time off, you haven’t accomplished X yet.” Sound familiar? If so, shower yourself with grace. Bring awareness to the feelings of guilt and shame and reframe those thoughts and emotions in the direction of self-love and compassion. Just as much as you deserve the success that you’re striving for, you deserve to take care of yourself, love yourself, and nurture yourself on the road to getting there.

I know from experience that all gas and no brakes WILL get you to the accomplishments you desire, but when you’re so burned out by the time you reach that accomplishment that there isn’t an ounce of “joy” or “passion” in your body, you will realize that getting there a little slower and stopping at the gas station to refill would’ve made the accomplishment that much sweeter.

I have to say, I disagree with the saying “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” While I do believe that you truly have more stamina when you’re doing what you love, you are still working and investing a lot of time and energy into that passion. You need to know how to refuel your tank because burnout is still very much possible even when you’re doing what you love.

To truly thrive, you must learn to balance your passions with self-care. It’s about recognizing your worth beyond your achievements and learning to listen to your body’s signals. By slowing down, setting boundaries, and making conscious choices, you can create a sustainable and fulfilling life that supports your dreams and well-being.

Your journey doesn’t need to be a relentless pursuit of goals. Instead, let it be a harmonious blend of striving and nurturing. Embrace the ebb and flow, and trust that by aligning your mind and body, you are paving the way for sustained success and genuine happiness.

With love,

Michaela Fuller