So, I had a problem with a colleague years ago and I never wrote about it - without going into the details, when I was a student, I had a lot of fun and made good friends (which was one of my primary interests). The people who share your interests become your friends. When this becomes your job, as it did for me, the people who share your interests could be your friends, but they often turn into competitors. And that gets sticky. I have found myself experiencing a lot of the frictions that I used to have in the corporate world, and it's because at the end of the day, even if we run spiritual businesses, we are still all human. So let's say you're really into runes or tarot or crystals or chakra healing - and you want to teach a class on that. Other teachers and healers might not like it.
I used to address this by doing a bit of a tribute to friends who worked on spiritual themes where I wasn’t present professionally, but that I was very interested in, personally. So for example, if I was talking about runes, I’d mention so and so. When I began posting about those themes online, or doing a class, some would respond well (most did). Eventually I realized that I didn't want to do tributes anymore, and I stopped. It wasn't the best strategy, and in hindsight, it was not the best friendship dynamic. I think it was a survival strategy, essentially after I had push back on some of those themes. Spirituality is a business now, and that’s ok, but it’s also a way of life.When I post something, is it for my business? A visual post, to catch people’s eyes, or just that I am interested in that topic? I still approach what I post online as sharing what I am into, what I have learned, and what I am doing at the moment. I only consider the classes I teach, and energy healing sessions as my business. If it's a class, a ton of time goes into prepping it. If it's a Facebook post, it might be a thought that went through my mind. If it's a one-to-one session with clients, the energy healing technique will be one where I spent a lot of time training, to offer that service.
I write about things I’m into - you have to let that guide you. It’s part of being authentic. For me, there isn't a huge difference between what I research, what I study for pure enjoyment and what could turn into a business or work opportunity. Blogging is my way of getting my thoughts out there. Social media is different; it gets you out there, in front of people. Still, initially I found it jarring when I had push back after expanding. It’s part of the growth process, and to an extent, to be expected.
Maybe it’s normal, but we do have to maintain our boundaries. If it's clear that a relationship has become strained, maybe it's best not to mention them, nor to build on what we might have learned from them. It depends on the situation, and what that was. With this in mind, I have deleted a few blog posts and content that referenced colleagues. I felt like this would be the energetically aligned way forward.
Thinking out loud,
Regina ~ My part in this 🤍🖤