David & Donni Want to Know—How Are You Really?
As an entrepreneur, your time is seldom your own. Your business or service takes precedence.
Customers, deliverables, or products become the focus, leaving the entrepreneur susceptible to ignoring other things that are important.
Sadly, these forgotten things, like mental and emotional health, are crucial to our wellbeing emotionally, mentally and physically.
This avoidance causes some entrepreneurs to bury their emotions within their work, diving in head first, hoping they will escape the emotions that are bothering them.
But this is not a sustainable way to exist, because those emotions will come to the surface somehow and will show up in different ways.
Although he couldn't pinpoint what has changed within him, he knows he hasn't been himself.
Donni then opened up, sharing how she experienced a deep depression earlier this year, and she gives the strategy of how she came out of it.
A conversation about grief and coping with depression ensued that we want to share with you.
So, if you have experienced a significant loss of a family member or depression, you are not alone—David & Donni and countless other entrepreneurs have been there.
This blog post will share with you some coping skills to keep going.
Please note, the opinions stated in this article are not from licensed mental health professionals. Please seek the council of a licensed therapist if you need help to navigate an emotional situation.
Find a qualified therapist in your area by clicking here.
Without further ado, let's get into this healing content. We hope that it blesses someone.
Recognize It, Then Treat It
We all know when we are off. Why we're off can be hard to define, but we know that we're off.
We'll term this as being in a funk. The conditions of being in a funk are subjective and depend on the person. But across the board, the universal sign of recognition is when things don't bring the person joy any longer. Another indicator is that they may stop prioritizing their appearance and wellness.
In order to remove overcome a funk, acknowledgment of where you are and how you are feeling is the first step.
The irony was that she was at a good point in her life when these feelings arose and they lasted for four months.
With intentional thoughts and self-talk, so told herself that she had come too far to risk losing her momentum and succumb to the feeling she was having.
Another thing she noticed while being in a funk, people may forget what feels good to them.
She combated this with intentional effort and action.
Donni wrote a list of things to remind herself of what gives her joy. This list came in handy on her darkest days.
Consider This: Remember what makes you feel good by writing a list of things that make you happy. Refer to that list and choose one and do it when you are feeling low. This will help you push through when feel as though you can't.
"When you're going through ruts, your're not looking for amazing days—your're looking for great moments." - Donni Wiggins
What happens when it's not enough?
Admittedly, David & Donni are both successful in their own right.
David is the Podcast King and has broken records with The Social Proof Podcast with the amount of streams and downloads he's achieved, and Donni is a coach dedicated to empowering business owners.
They've done well for themselves financially, yet both can recall times when the money was not enough.
That begs that question, when everything seems to be going well and you still don't feel good, what can you do?
Maybe it's time for some introspection. Go deeply into your thoughts and figure out when and where the shift occurred. When was the moment you went from feeling like yourself to not feeling like yourself?
For David, it was easy for him to recognize, the passing of his mother took a toll on him.
Consider This: When did the change within you occur? If you can think of the exact moment, write down how those feelings affected you in your journal. Once you write them down, face them so you can heal from that moment.
Don't suffer alone.
As the conversation continues, Donni congratulates David for sharing that statement with her publicly.
See, once you recognize what is going on, naming it gives the power to conquer it. After all, you can't fight an enemy you can see.
Also, let your friends and family know what you are feeling. Those who love you want the best for you and will be there for you as you navigate choppy waters. But they can't do that if you don't let them know.
Donni and David's wife, Andrea, also known as Dre, knew something was off with David. But they waited patiently and gave him space to admit it.
They did this because, arguably, after the self-recognition that you are in a funk, admittance begins the path of healing.
Grief is real.
Old heads on the block constantly say, "What's understood does not have to be told."
But some things need to be stated clearly and intentionally.
It's important to realize that there are several stages of grief.
Knowing the different stages can provide an understanding of where you are and will give you a roadmap of your healing journey.
There are several outlets to assist you as you heal, such as a therapist or support group to assist you as you go through things.
Donni also suggests that you don't run away from grief.
It's something that can only heal with time.
Cement the memories of your loved one with pictures.
As you heal from your loss, make sure you celebrate the time you did have with your loved one.
Donni suggested that David go through his phone gallery, select and print out images of his mom to keep around so that he can think positively on the time they shared.
Consider This: Grab the images from your phone of your loved and get them printed and place them in a photo album. Do you remember we used to do that back in the day? Let's bring in back in celebration of those we've lost.
Special Recognition
Team Social Proof would like to send their regards and deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who passed on December 13, 2022. His untimely death to suicide supports the need for us to be kind, loving and support each other. If you or someone you know has considered suicide, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). You are worthy and not alone.
We sincerely hope that this blog and episode have helped someone. If you know anyone in need of healing and wish to share this post with them, please do.
Please check out the rest of this episode and we wish you well on your healing journey.