This year, I’m embarking on a radical experiment of TRUST.
I’m allowing my business to be a true playground.
I’m breaking intergenerational patterns of obligation and rule-following and scarcity… and reaching for FREEDOM. Isn’t that the ultimate dream for immigrant parents: that their children be safe and happy and free?
I’m finally doing what I’ve been dreaming of doing for 8 years… moving towards living in FLOW.
It’s a trust fall with the universe. What will happen if I truly let go of all the SHOULDS and HAVE-TOs? Will I end up homeless on the street, alone? Or will I be ok?
“You can’t REALLY do whatever the fuck you want. That’s not how life works,… right?”
I’m a little afraid of the answer.
But I want to find out, more than I am afraid.
So here’s the radical experiment.
In 2021, my business, Crooked Calligraphy, made over $900K in revenue and employed 7 women across the country. But running it felt HEAVY and eventually I burned out and felt like I had to step waaaaay back, or even abandon it completely.
In early 2022, I decided to do a final sale… and then I WENT SILENT for 9 whole months.
And now, this is what I feel inspired to do.
>>>>For all of 2023, I’m going to:
Run Crooked Calligraphy in exactly the way I want to run it, without following any of the business “rules” I’ve learned and stuck to in the past.
Hold my people (that’s you) in the highest regard and share openly and honestly. But also put ruthless anti-people-pleasing boundaries in place.
Share with you what I learn and what my business ends up bringing to my life, in DOLLARS and GROWTH and LESSONS.
I will:
Create from JOY, not obligation
Try to recognize when I’m acting out of the “SHOULD mentality”, and take a step back from that action, even if it’s highly inconvenient
Allow things to be MESSY, even if that means starting and stopping projects, pivoting halfway through, or giving up entirely on something I had planned to do
Allow ideas to flow, without needing to MAXIMIZE anything (IG likes, profits, nice comments, etc.)
This feels like something I HAVE TO DO right now. If I got a cancer diagnosis right this second and knew I only had 3 years to live… I would still do exactly this.
It will be messy as fuck. It will be unfiltered, raw, unexpected and probably a little bit challenging. If that’s not what you need in your life right now, if you were just hoping for beautiful, soothing calligraphy videos… that’s totally ok. I invite you to stay or leave, whatever feels right to you.
But if you stay… I’m so excited to see what unfolds together.
Love,
Shinah
February 15, 2023