If you have ever started something new...I see you. That is actually so much of my work - walking with someone as they start something new - a business, a career, a goal, a mindset, a project. There's a lot of boxes to check off, tangible things we can wrap our heads around. Things like hard work and filling out forms and choosing a name and building a website. But perhaps the biggest task to overcome is believing in ourselves enough to be vulnerable. It takes so much courage and self love to put yourself out there. For when you start your own business, you are sharing a piece of yourself with the world, with your clients, with your community. Saunda Pawlak's open and honest words reminds us how much inner work we have to do before we ever see our first clients or even choose a name. I met Saundra at a really special writer's retreat where I learned that along with her talents of photographer and wellness practitioner, she is also a gifted writer. Her inner dialoge shared through haiku brings us deeper into understanding her journey of growth and belief. Thank you Saundra and welcome to The Soul Place!
Sarah Smith Warren is the founder of Soul Space Work, a coaching and consulting space working to support and empower all humans to live and work soul centered lives. Connect with Sarah at ssw@soulspacework.com
Starting Your Own Business: A Journey of Healing and Growth
by Saundra Pawlak, Founder of Inner Soul Reflections
Starting your own business isn’t easy, especially when you’re combining two passions that might not seem to go together at first. A few months ago, I launched a creative business, and let me tell you, it’s been an interesting journey. A few years ago, I tried starting a photography business, but things didn’t exactly pan out the way I had hoped. After that, I stepped away from photography for a while, feeling uninspired, and put the idea on the back burner.
Fear whispers, doubt calls,
But the spark inside still burns.
Finding inner strength.
The Fear of Starting Again
I’ve often felt anxiety and doubt in starting what feels like a second business. The question lingers: Will this journey work out, or will it fall apart again? But this time, there’s something different. This time, I’ve combined two things I love—photography and healing arts—into one business, and while it may not feel “normal” to most people, it’s deeply fulfilling for me. Spoiler alert: I’m not your typical business owner. Imitating how others run their businesses just doesn’t feel natural to me. In fact, it sometimes makes me feel like an imposter.
Who am I kidding?
I feel like a healing fraud.
Imposter syndrome.
Many people have told me I should separate the two and keep them distinct, but to me, they don’t need to be separated. In fact, they complement each other perfectly. Photography, for me, is a healing art—just like massage and reiki. At first glance, they might seem like completely different worlds, but for me, they share a common purpose: healing. Through my photography, I capture moments that can bring peace and relaxation, and by infusing those photos with reiki energy, I amplify that healing experience.
Do business like this.
No, run your business like that.
Outside influence.
How Photography and Reiki Coexist
Some may wonder, how can photography and reiki coexist in one business? The answer is simple: it’s all about intention. When you gaze at a photograph that captures a peaceful moment in nature, you can feel a sense of calm, right? Now, when I infuse that photograph with reiki energy, it enhances that sense of healing even more. In my business space, I’ve displayed reiki-infused prints of my photos. When clients visit for a service, they experience not only the physical healing touch of massage or reiki but also the calming effect of these healing photographs.
A healing business.
Blending all my healing gifts.
Together as one.
Nature as Inspiration
Nature is at the heart of my business—both in the photographs I take and in how I’ve decorated my space. My connection to nature began in my childhood, growing up on a crop farm in Northwestern North Dakota. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate the beauty around me. It wasn’t until I moved away that I began to truly recognize its value. Growing up on the farm was not without its challenges, and there were generational traumas that shaped my experience. But with time, healing, and distance, I now find myself yearning to return. Every time I visit, I feel a little more grounded, a little more at peace. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we don’t realize the healing power of our roots until we’ve grown and left.
Roots deep in the soil.
Breathe in the earth’s quiet song.
Peace is found in growth.
The Tree Metaphor: Grounded Yet Growing
The more I integrate nature into my business, the more I see it as a tree. The trunk represents my core intentions: healing and providing a safe space for people to just be. The roots symbolize everything I’ve been through to get to this point—my experiences, my healing, and my growth. The branches represent the different services I offer, and the leaves represent my ongoing journey of personal and business growth.
One of my greatest intentions for my business is that when clients walk into my space, they feel grounded—like the roots of a tree. At the same time, I want them to feel free to reach for the sky and pursue their dreams while continuing to grow and heal. My goal is for my business to be a place of both safety and inspiration.
Roots grow with each step.
Branches reach for dreams untold.
Leaves dance in the breeze.
An Invitation to Heal and Connect
Join me for a special POP UP event on January 31 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Crystal Rock Healing for a chair massage experience for only $25. If you're interested in booking a massage or reiki session with me, all first time clients receive 15% off. Please check availability on my website: www.innersoulreflections.com.
New Year, new beginnings.
Together we heal and grow.
Sparks of light take flight.
Connect or Schedule with Saundra at Inner Soul Reflections
Saundra Pawlak
Inner Soul Reflections
Fargo, North Dakota
Interested in being a Guest Contributor on The Soul Place?
The Soul Place is an online journal that celebrates the positive and passionate work by brilliant and brave individuals. If you would like to be a guest contributor on The Soul Place, or if you know someone who should be a guest, please contact Sarah at ssw@soulspacework.com
We'd love to celebrate YOU!
Comments