Hi, I'm Helena.
I write about the part of building your own business that most advice skips: the inner experience.
Building something you care about can be deeply rewarding, but it also asks a lot from you. It can bring uncertainty, stress, anxiety, and doubt. It can be difficult to switch off, trust yourself through unclear periods, or actually savor the process of building.
These aren't signs something is wrong with you. They're part of what building something of your own does to a person.
My own path into this work was not straightforward.
I grew up watching my father build a business from nothing. He made it work — financially, really well. But it came at a cost: little real time for family or friends, health that was ignored for years, a restlessness that never settled, always striving for the next thing and never really satisfied.
Early on, I decided on a different path: a corporate career, stability, and a life that looked steady and successful. But when I arrived there, I realised I'd been drawn more to what it represented — the security, recognition, comfort — than to the work itself.
I got really, really bored. And then depressed. I had spent so much time getting there, perfecting skills for work that genuinely didn't make me want to get up and use them.
So I began building business ideas of my own.
There were experiments that didn't fit, channels I eventually deleted, a tech blog that made enough money to pay for my wedding, and incredible learnings.
Through that messy process, and the painful emotional rollercoaster that came with it, I kept thinking back to my father.
I didn't want building my own business to come at the expense of my emotional wellbeing and the life around it. It's supposed to nourish both — financially and emotionally. Otherwise, what's the point of building your own business if it feels as bad or worse than a regular job?
That led me deeper into mindfulness, meditation, and the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, nervous system, and behaviour.
Today, I teach mindfulness and meditation and am continuing my training as a mental health coach. My background also includes an M.A. in Business, a B.A. in Economics, and a Diploma of Higher Education in Computer Science.
I believe your inner strength is what lets you sustain the work long enough to succeed, navigate uncertainty, make better decisions, manage stress, and enjoy the build. This newsletter is here to help you get there.
What you'll find here
- Essays that will reframe how you think about emotional struggles, business strategy, and fulfillment.
- Evidence-based tools to help you unblock the fears and patterns that keep so many entrepreneurs stuck.
- Practices to build the emotional resilience and inner strength to make
I'm glad you found your way here.
Warmly,
Helena
A note: I am not a therapist or clinician. If you are going through something serious, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional 🤍.