Business Owners + Dön Season

Just as the motion of the earth and the cycle of the seasons take place, there may be also a cycle of the karmic forces on a psychic level. Traditionally the end of the old year is seen as a time of the ripening of karmic tendencies.  -Lodro Dorje

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we will begin a New Year on February 19th. From the time of February 8th-17th there is a traditional period known for being challenging or rough —a time of obstacles."This dön season is a time where the accumulated karma from the past year rises up and, at times, feels like it’s slapping you in the face. This is said to take a variety of forms: arguments, accidents, heated conflict. On a more inner level, we are more prone to fixed emotions and opinions, sickness and feeling unbalanced.” -Elephant Journal ArticleI note this trend every year and I am feeling it poignantly now as I prepare for welcome a child into my world while simultaneously owning and growing a business.I was on the phone with a friend of mine a few weeks ago and he was empathizing with my business/ life situation.  He said, "I hear you, you feel like so many business owner do- you feel like you’re drowning, BUT, you must realize you are drowning in 3 feet of water and you can just stand up(!)- your life isn’t in danger- you’re not in a vast ocean- just stand up".  For weeks now this image has stuck with me and it makes me laugh, it lightens my mood and I feel empowered, or at least capable of doing the next right thing.As business owners we all go through prosperous + challenging times, our businesses ebb + flow, we tell stories that empower us or scare us. And we often don’t realize the stories we are telling ourselves about what the current conditions of our lives mean… we become consumed, we lose our perspective, we lose our sense of humor, and we forget that this too shall pass.Part of being a member of the HoloBeing community is rising up and doing the good work of seeing yourself fully in your subjective world, understanding where you are in yourself, being open to challenging your beliefs about yourself, digging deep to find your deeper truth in any given situation and calling up the best version of you- even if that version is weary, frightened, lost or radiant- and offering it up to the higher good so that you can show up for your clients and your community in the most human way.Sitting down to write to you all has helped me locate myself this morning. As a fellow-traveler I am here with you as an ally, a friend and a partner. I hope you all have a wonderful and clarifying dön season.