My Community Was Already There. I Just Wasn't Open to It.
After writing my last blog on a part of my story I haven’t shared, not much has changed YET everything has changed.
For starters, I found out about an incredible medical event for DME/HME providers that is happening mid-August in NC. Did I plan to travel, attend, let alone set-up a booth for an event at 34 weeks pregnant? Heck no…. But did I sit with the opportunity and feel how aligned this would be to start planting seeds and building relationships more in this industry. Heck yes!
My confidence had been dwindling on the consulting side of my business as I had niched down and had no traction. Finding out about this event and committing to being an exhibitor alone has lit a fire back under me and this business (also huge thanks to Leo season finally rolling in about a week ago 😂).
I also reached out to a dear friend, client, and psychic of mine mid-July. I have been so in my head recently, unable to tap into my intuition- I needed someone on the outside.
Meeting with her, discussing what has been rising, again was the confirmation I needed. On top of that, as soon as I reached out, even before our reading, I finally could start hearing my intuition again (around the same time the event above dropped in that I was meant to go).
Now as we are about to head into August, more and more clarity has risen. We are about to ride a massive wave and the one thing I know is I could not do any of this without the incredible community of family, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs around me.
What happened when I logged off
On Monday, 7/20, I logged off of Instagram and Facebook….. Not forever and not 100% but both of these apps have been deleted off my phone.
Once per week, I redownload to schedule any posts or share a podcast/blog in my stories then delete again.
Now why am I sharing this? Because I don’t know about any of you but I do really well for a portion of time then go into a spiral of scrolling, comparison, etc. and I knew it was time to cut that off.
I also have this little voice in my head that these platforms are how I connect to my community, how I share and keep people updated, and how I stay updated on everyone else.
When in reality, I hate that and honestly THRIVE connecting over voice notes, in-person connections, and sometimes text.
The moment I logged off and deleted my social media apps, the most amazing thing happened for me.
I started reconnecting with people on a whole deeper level because I finally had the energy and mental bandwidth to send voice notes, meet up for coffee in-person, and have full conversations.
Stepping away from social gave me the space to finally experience this immense gratitude for what happens when you actually connect with people, reconnect to your intuition, and remember what matters most.
I was blocking it without even knowing…
There is a difference when someone offers support that’s genuine versus from a place of obligation. And I don’t know about you, but I can feel the difference.
Yet, for so long, I felt like everyone was offering out of obligation or I didn’t want to burden them/didn’t want to have the feeling of owing them back after if I couldn’t (either financially, physically, emotionally, etc).
And this right here is why I and many others struggle with receiving. We think we are burdening, we think we owe them back, we think we aren’t worthy, we think we think we think……..
But what I have been learning and practicing over these last few months is how to start receiving without all of these extra emotions or expectations.
And that’s what I wanted to share with you here. Because what has unfolded these last few weeks might not be new projects, more cash flow or revenue, etc. But this never ending gratitude for my community, allowing myself to receive support in all different ways, and trusting the timing of it all.
Community showing up in ways I didn’t expect
The first opportunity to practice receiving happened right after posting my other blog on our financial situation. My mom and I had an amazing conversation (we won’t get into all the details) but what came from it was this offer and knowing…. My parents are there to help us financially if we get to a point we need it while business continues to work its way out.
A couple days later, I was messaging someone who is a friend, a client, and I am a client of theirs (gotta love these relationships!). She and her husband have a few kids and know they will not be having any more. She had asked for my registry then started sending me photos of many of the items I wanted that she had barely used and wanted to gift to me.
So this last weekend, my mom and I drove up to Virginia expecting to pick up a few items and came home with a CAR FULL 😮
It was totally unexpected and probably worth over $1000 of items that were used, barely used, or brand new. I am still in awe of their generosity plus the opportunity to spend extra time with her in person talking about life and business. It was a win win all around!
Then, last minute, I met up with another friend and fellow entrepreneur while in Charlotte the other week. After visiting a client, we got to grab coffee and catch up on life and business as well.
At the end, I mentioned to her how I wish I could hire her to support me in updating my website. I was working on the copy but just don’t have a creative eye on how to layout the website pages that is eye-catching or pleasing to look at I guess you could say.
As we were wrapping up to head home, without even hesitating, she offered to update my website and create the additional pages for me if I would just provide her the copy. I was absolutely speechless.
In this moment specifically, I felt like I would owe her big time if she did this for me whether financially down the road or by supporting her in some other way.
But she wanted none of that and continued to say, she wanted to do this for me especially before my mid-August event as this would be massively supportive for my time there.
Learning to receive
I share only three moments from the last few weeks where my community showed up. I knew they were there and also, I now know I was blocking a lot of this from coming my way because I was not open to receiving it.
All of this I share because you never know the opportunities around you, the support in your corner, the people waiting for you to say yes or speak up that you are blocking by not being open to the possibility of it.
Receiving does not come easily for many of us, especially us women.
It is a muscle we must continue working. Practicing over and over, knowing the worst thing that can happen is someone says no or doesn’t offer.
And remember, above all, to be grateful no matter how big or small the offer is. One day, you will be able to return the support or pass it along to someone else. Not now, maybe not any time soon, but one day in the future. Don’t burden yourself.
Trust yourself, trust the Universe/God/Higher Power, lean on your community, and open yourself to receive.
You might be surprised at what happens when you do 💜
Cat Roten
Intuitive Leader & Mentor