A typical reason for becoming a heart-led solopreneur is that a previous work experience left you burnt out. With courage and determination, you released yourself from a toxic environment where your needs weren’t met, guided by a vision of working for yourself in a way that felt aligned, clear, and abundant.

This was my experience.

I couldn’t see how my old tendencies towards workaholism might seep into this new way of working – after all, it’s just me, myself and I (and I know how to take care of myself).

Or at least I thought I did.

At the core of my decision to become a solopreneur was the belief that I could look after myself. Financially, emotionally, and energetically. So the balance between doing what I love and earning enough from it has always felt both delicate and essential. I carved out time – and savings – in the hope of giving myself the best possible chance of success.

When growing a small business, many will say you just need to “keep showing up”, “stay visible”, “post on socials”, “have a blog”… And in truth, I’ve been enjoying discovering myself in these ways – building connections, calling in creative opportunities. I’m part of a business coaching programme where we celebrate each other’s successes (and failures) and move through the review-reflect cycle together.

Sometimes, it feels like I’m winning. Other times, like I’m chasing a carrot forever dangled just out of reach.

The other day, after weeks spent preparing to launch a new product that didn’t make any sales, I asked ChatGPT: “What is the deeper learning here?”

And the answer blindsided me.

“You are feeling burnt out.”

Oof, that landed. I was exhausted and confused, in need of a break, but my plan had been to ‘just keep going’. Not because of any external pressure, but because I believed it was my only option. Yet reading the word burnout connected me to something deeper, and unearthed the real question:

What is it that keeps me striving so hard, so determined to make a success of myself as a solopreneur?

Sitting with that brought me into contact with some tender truths. I want to prove that I’m worthy (to who?) I want to be seen (by who?) I don’t want to fail, or be judged, or laughed at, or dismissed.

In that moment of clarity, I realised that the one person who truly needs to see me – is me.

And from that place, something softened. I could meet myself with compassion. I could ask what I really need – not what the advisers suggest or the cheerleaders champion, but what my inner child quietly longs for.

She said, simply: “To rest.”

So that’s what I’ve been doing. And in resting, something new has begun to emerge – a quiet sense of having my own back. A reconnection to inspiration. A curiosity about what the next creative project might be. A gentle unfolding of financial self-care, whatever shape that wants to take. Even a spark of excitement at the idea of finding a job – something that supports my love of coaching and tarot, while allowing me to bring my skills and experience into a new, nourishing space of service.

Perhaps you recognise some of this in your own journey. If so, I wonder – what keeps you striving so hard? Who are you hoping will finally see you? And what might shift if you turned towards yourself with compassion, and simply asked: what do I need right now? What do I truly want? These questions aren’t always easy – but they hold the potential to bring you back to yourself, and closer to the life you long to live.

✼

If you would like to book a Ground & Rise Tarot consultation to reconnect to your own inspiration, book into my calendar here.