Ep. 6 | Navigating Embarrassment

Hi, this is Kate Zurenko, host of the podcast Practices Progress. I've curated content and interviews to inspire and to help fast forward your solopreneur's success by learning from others who are sharing real examples of what it takes to create and to run a business from within their own four walls. I hope these real life experiences are inspiration to what is possible. I am driven every day not only to create a successful business, but one that is sustainable, and I know it's possible for you too.

Hi all, welcome back to practice its progress. I can't believe this is my 6th episode. I'm so proud of myself for actually doing this and holding true to my goal so far being a month and a half into the year. I'm having so much fun living this concept as I step into the next version of me in my personal life and in my business, I've had an incredible start to 2024.There's something that has clicked for me regarding my emotional turbulence and it's that I'm ultimately in control of the thoughts causing my emotions, which my adhd brain and never thought this was possible. It's not that the emotions don't happen, but I am more easily able to realize when they're not serving me and then have a choice on how I manage them through shifting my thoughts.

I also believe that clarity has allowed me to come into this year with such fierce intentionality, and it's proving to pay off. So far I've started this podcast and stayed consistent and true to it. I'm launching a new offer in my business and I'm feeling more inner peace than ever before despite these new challenges. And a huge part of this is truly living and practicing what's being taught in the get coached program by Brooke Castillo. So a huge shout out to what an amazing offer she is putting on.

Super grateful. There's one major emotion that has surfaced throughout all of this that I didn't realize had as much of a stronghold on me as it does or did. I'm working through it. The emotion is embarrassment and the definition of that is the feeling of self consciousness, shame or awkwardness. So that is a lot of feelings packed into that definition.

And for me, this feeling can come up from a memory in my past, a feeling in my present, or a perceived threat of embarrassment that could be happening in my future. It's a sneaky emotion and now that I've realized its power over me, I've decided I'm going to make friends with it. And every time, a memory that haunts me reappears rather than ignoring it or spiraling it into an emotional overflow, I'm just going to welcome it and sit with its discomfort. And if the timing is not right to spend time with my embarrassment, I'll acknowledge it and let it know we'll hang out later. This has been so impactful for me.

It's allowed me to show up here, create content, even on the days I don't feel like I know what I'm doing. And oftentimes I think back on an episode and think I should have said that better, or why did I say it that way? And so on. But again, those are just thoughts that are not serving me. And oftentimes from those thoughts I feel embarrassed.

So then I remind myself if I am truly being intentional and I'm really living by this idea, b minus work is okay and whatever the outcome is, it will be a stepping stone towards my goal. And not to forget that practice is indeed what makes progress. This truly re-grounds me and lets me just be a little more peaceful in the moment that I'm in, knowing I'm not supposed to be in any other spot, that the future is the future, and in order to get there, I need to show up now and do the things that make me uncomfortable now, knowing that that will pay off for my future self. And I also believe that progress is bifold. So we often have what has gone right and felt positive, or there's the other side for progress is pushing through the discomfort of learning along the way.

And I believe that both are pivotal in building a sustainable and successful business. So here are three main points I want to give to you to consider that have been really important to me and instrumental to me along my journey. The first one is really shifting your perspective, right? This is leaning into the teachings that I'm a month and a half into in the program that I mentioned, and I have the rest of the year, through the end of December to really, really shift my perspective. And if I've already shifted it this much now, I just can't even wait to see what it's going to be like at the end of the year.

So to shift your perspective, you need to understand that mistakes and setbacks are a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey, and everyone experiences challenges and failures at some point. You really need to view your embarrassment as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than a reflection of personal worth. And I think this one is so important to reiterate. So you need to view your embarrassment as an opportunity for growth rather than a reflection of personal worth. You need to recognize that making mistakes is a crucial aspect of solopreneurship and each setback is a chance to improve and refine your approach.

And then also consider that the successful individuals in your field and recognize that they too faced and continue to face difficulties. They've made errors. They will make errors as they continue on their path to success. So use these stories as inspiration and a reminder that embarrassment is not a permanent state. The second one is focus on solutions and improvement.

This is a really big one for me too. It grounds me in that intentionality of what emotions are serving me and what are not. So instead of dwelling on the embarrassment itself, channel your energy into finding solutions and making improvements. Identify the specific areas where you face challenges or have made mistakes and create an action plan to address them. This has recently been something that was a huge switch for me, and realizing that I just needed to have an action plan helped pull me out of the spiraling point I was in a little setback of embarrassment that I had.

Also, you can seek feedback from members, excuse me, from mentors, from peers or customers to gain valuable insight into areas that need improvement. Constructive feedback can be instrumental in refining your business strategies and practices, and then, as important as the rest, embrace a growth mindset. You have to understand that setbacks are opportunities to become more resilient, adaptable and skilled. Use the experience to enhance your skills and knowledge, ultimately contributing to the success of your business. And then the third and final important piece to all this is to build a support system.

So you need to surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, colleagues and friends who truly understand the entrepreneurial journey. You can share your experiences with them and seek advice and encouragement. You also should discuss your challenges openly with others who can help normalize the experience and alleviate the feelings of isolation. Often, people in your network have faced similar situations and can provide valuable insights and guidance. And I'm going to leave you with this last one for the support system.

But it's really important that you establish a routine of self reflection and self compassion. Acknowledge that everyone encounters obstacles and it's okay to feel embarrassed or frustrated. You need to treat yourself with kindness and focus on moving forward. So remember, the ability to bounce back from embarrassment is a valuable skill in solopreneurship. And by shifting your mindset, focusing on solutions and building a strong support system, you can navigate through challenges with resilience and continue to show up for your business with the courage and confidence that you have worked forward.

And don't forget becoming friends with the embarrassment is key as you navigate your business journey. I hope this little tidbit about this very big emotion has been helpful. Thank you so much for your time today, and as always, I look forward to being with you here next week. Hope you have a great day!