Being in the business-building space—especially when things aren’t going smoothly or you’re embracing a non-linear approach—can feel disempowering, confusing, or even like gaslighting.

Just click through any social media ads about business:

(Fake examples from me, but you wouldn’t know it.)

👉 With the Niche-O-Matic, you'll get a gazillion referrals in an hour! Your inbox will literally explode under the weight of new client emails, but at least you’ll have a full caseload!

💭 Try the Dream Content Creator! It taps into your subconscious while you sleep to craft high-converting social posts. All it costs? Just 1 year of your life—worth it for all the new followers!

🙅🏽‍♀️ Not converting sales calls? Then you need this Slam Dunk Sales Script. I’ll show you how to coerce your hesitant leads into saying yes! Consent and critical thinking, be damned! Someone needs to pay your bills, right?*

If you feel icky reading through my pretend examples, and know they aren't far from real ads you've seen, you need to hear this:

​

YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.

​

Sorry to yell, but I really want you to take this in.

When you’re feeling desperate for new clients, overwhelmed with poor fit ones, exhausted with taking insurance, or wondering if you’re cut out for this whole private practice thing, please remember you didn't learn this in graduate school or your clinical training.

Running a business takes sustained, consistent effort. Often, depending on your identities, privileges, or lack thereof, it is stacked against you. It requires facing risk and uncertainty every day.

​

So here’s what you can do instead:

Take a Beat.

When you are trapped in the grind of capitalism (as we all are), you may make business decisions from panic and compulsion. Although counterintuitive, when you take a pause, you can tap into what you truly need from yourself and your business.

Listen.

Once you have paused (the longest for me was a two month sabbatical), you can access your deeper knowing.

Once you're more regulated, those admin tasks might not seem as intimidating. You'll realize you hate posting on social and want a new approach. An abundance of creativity may well up within you.

Get Support.

We can't do this alone. What do you need to sustain yourself as a business owner? Consider community, emotional, and strategic/business support.

​

If this email feels a tad jarring but medicine to your soul, you'll love my latest podcast interview on the Deeply Rested Podcast.

🎧 LISTEN IN

​I joined my friends Annie Robershaw and Maegan Megginson to share my experience of recovering from burnout and realigning my business with my personal values.

We explored the power of practices like sabbaticals, personal growth, and redefining how we pay ourselves as business owners.

​

Reader, how did this email land with you?

A) Yes! I'm so frustrated and disheartened about all the conflicting business advice.

B) Ugh, same. I also feel like any business struggle is my fault.

C) Clear. I know where I need to put my energy this season.

D) All of the above!?

Hit “reply” and tell me. I’m in this with you. 💕

xo Ari

P.S. *This particular example was inspired by my work with Tarzan Kay on consent-based email marketing. Join their newsletter here. ←aff link

P.P.S. If you'd like copy that expresses your authentic message, reach out here.​

P.P.P.S. Could the emotional patterns in your business be influenced by...your lineage? Explore 5 practices for using tarot in ancestral healing here, with 3 spreads you can try today.

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