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Hey Friends,

In today’s manifesto, we’re diving into a realization that struck me right on my cozy couch: we didn’t start our businesses to be weighed down by endless to-do lists, analytics, or the constant pressure of engagement numbers. We started them for freedom, joy, and the ability to live aligned with our values. But, somewhere along the way, many of us lose sight of this.

Last night, as I sat on my couch after prepping for the day, I felt such calm. I had my breakfast and lunch ready, my work outfit laid out, and a quiet, reassuring thought crossed my mind: There’s nothing I need to do right now to worry about my business’s success. I realized it isn’t my job to be constantly watching and worrying over every blog post, Pinterest pin, or email I put out there. My real job is to enjoy the process, to create from a place of pleasure, and to trust that my work has value.

Letting Go of the Need to Control

It’s easy to feel like we need to control every outcome in our business, especially with tools that show us open rates, engagement, and the reach of every post. But when we let these analytics consume us, we risk turning our businesses into stressors. Sure, analytics matter – they provide insight and help us gauge effectiveness. But they shouldn’t eclipse the joy of doing what we love.

Instead, our focus should be on cultivating pleasure in our work. As female entrepreneurs, many of us began our businesses to experience life on our terms, to have freedom, fulfillment, and alignment with our values. And here’s the truth: worry isn’t on that list.

Shifting from Worry to Alignment

As long as we have desires, there will always be goals we’re striving for – and with those goals, some challenges will arise. But let’s remember that worry was never meant to be the foundation of our businesses. We started these ventures for freedom – freedom over our time, our finances, our creativity. We wanted the chance to build something that feels good to us, that aligns with who we are. When we lead with that energy, the work becomes a pleasure, not a task.

Reclaiming the Fun in Your Business

If you find yourself caught up in numbers and metrics, take a step back and remember why you started. As I sat on my couch, feeling such gratitude and love for my business, I realized: This is supposed to be fun. Your business should be a source of joy, a place where you feel at peace and aligned. If it’s become a source of stress, it might be time to reevaluate how you’re doing things.

The joy of sitting there with a big, goofy smile on my face – that’s what I want for all of you. I want you to wake up excited about your business, not feeling like it’s another item on your to-do list. So here’s a simple invitation: ask yourself, Does my business light me up? Does it make me smile for no reason? If not, it might be time to shift things.

Building a Business You Can’t Wait to Work In

When you create from a place of pleasure, when your work reflects who you are and what you value, it changes everything. That joy translates into your products, your services, and your impact. And guess what? People feel that energy. They’re drawn to it. So let’s bring back the fun, the love, and the alignment in our businesses.

What kind of life are you creating? Is your business a source of joy, or has it become a source of stress? Do you wake up excited to work in it, or does it feel like just another task? Are you in love with the work you’re doing, or has it started to feel like a chore?

If you’re not waking up excited, if your business isn’t bringing you joy, take some time to explore why. Start setting up pathways that bring more fun and fulfillment into your daily work. Build a business that makes you smile for no reason, that makes you feel grateful, that others might not understand but feels deeply fulfilling to you. I promise – that is a life well-lived, and a business well-built.

Live pleasurably,

Manifestos You’ll Love!