No Mud, No Lotus

My second adventure as a business entrepreneur took place 20 years ago when I was living in Thailand with my family and decided to launch a small accessory business called Lotus. My first involved a small candle production in North Africa. But that is a story for some other time.

No mud, no lotus 🪷

With no prior knowledge of its spiritual connotation, I picked the name Lotus because of the graphic qualities of this beautiful flower. I later learned about the tough conditions in which these highly resilient plants typically unfold and thereby added respect to my initial attraction.

But it wasn't until many years later that realized the spiritual significance of the lotus flower and how it often serves as a symbol of personal development and growth. Just as I, much like my gradual discovery of the lotus, came to understand how beauty can sometimes grow from adversity and disruption.

When the 2003 tsunami hit Southeast Asia it not only ended the life of thousands of people in a short and horrific moment in time. It also changed and redefined the life course for many of those who were spared.

Blessed by the fact that our family wasn’t harmed by the catastrophe, I was asked to join one of the many rescue teams put in place to tackle some of the terrible tragedies caused by the event.

As I am sure you can imagine, this very intensive period not only taught me some very powerful life lessons. It also changed my perspective on several things, including the direction of my professional path. To cut a long story short, my involvement in the tsunami crisis in Thailand led me to the decision to end my endeavor with silk scarves and begin a corporate career in my home country of Denmark. 

Looking back, the following years became among the hardest, but also among the most educational. At the time, I was in my mid-thirties and trying my best to compensate professionally for the absence of a more traditional career path on my resume while trying to raise two young kids, be the supportive spouse of a busy partner, and to tackle the new ownership of a fixer-upper draining us for our time and money!

Stuck in the fog

Although we were able to manage the transition as a family, this was personally the time in life where I have felt the closest to burnout and stress. What probably for the most part looked great from the outside, often felt like staggering through heavy fog on the inside. 

Struggling to take care of myself in the right way, I felt increasingly disconnected from knowing what I actually wanted for myself. Sometimes feeling shameful for not having this kind of clarity, I would often end up focusing on what would be expected from me from an external perspective.

In hindsight, I was “stuck in the fog” and paralyzed by the fear of being unable to find any real sense of purpose. So much so that I would completely overlook the gentle signs from my body and soul. And, what I still had to learn at the time, was how fog is merely low-hanging clouds, temporarily blocking visibility and the brightness of the sun.

But just like the Lotus needs the nutrients from the mud, I somehow needed the challenges I was going through. At times I got burned from crossing my personal limits by either going too fast or too soon. But for the most part, I was learning how to transform these experiences into new skills and capabilities.

Good things take time 

On the wall next to my desk, sits a small sign reminding me that: “Good things take time”. And as easy as they may sound, I am still learning the truth of these words. In life but certainly also as a small business owner. On good days I enjoy the mystery of the gradual unfolding of my mission. During periods of imbalance, I tend to feel more anxious and easily distracted. 

These are the days when I need to work extra hard on the patience and self-compassion that will allow me to get through and move on. But most importantly remind myself that foggy days are a temporary condition that I must learn to navigate and remind myself that the sun still shines above it all. 

As I am still figuring out my own strategies, I am wondering what you do to “bust the fog” in your life? 

Love,
Sille