#107 - How to have a business breakthrough when you’re at your lowest

I thought 2024 was going to be a milestone year for me. I had big goals and was all set to pursue them relentlessly. But 2024 caught me off guard. Life stopped me.

It stopped me so hard that now, as I sit here, I realize I’m nowhere close to the energy I had back in January. I’m a completely different person. And yet, when I look back at the year, I also see something surprising: I made leaps. Leaps I had been struggling to make for years.

Life always surprises us. It slows us down, throws curveballs, changes our plans—because that’s the nature of life. No matter how much we prepare, plan, or dream, the next year will surprise us. And the year after that. And the one after. So, yes, we need to plan and dream big, but we also need to be ready to ride the waves that life throws our way.

Sometimes that wave is joy, love, or success. Sometimes it’s loss, grief, or heartbreak. But the truth is, every wave teaches us something. And this year, I had to learn how to ride some really hard waves.

In May, I lost Hachi—our pup, our sunshine, our first baby.

I can’t describe what that felt like. My whole world fell apart. Those endless smiles we had as a family vanished, replaced by a heavy cloud of sadness. My goals, ambitions, and dreams didn’t matter anymore. It felt like someone had ripped a piece of me away. For months, I thought I’d lost myself. I thought I’d lost the year.

But then, something unexpected happened. When I looked closely, I realized that during this time—when I thought I was at my weakest—I had actually made some of the biggest leaps I’d ever made in my work.

In those months, I created my first food photography business course—something that had been sitting on my to-do list for two years. I also worked with a team to launch a brand-new website. Both were goals I’d been stuck on for years. And somehow, during the hardest season of my life, I finally got them done.

Looking back now, I see it clearly: my lowest point became my turning point.

I want to share the lessons that helped me navigate that season. 

Here are 4 life-changing opportunities that come at low times. Whether you’re going through something tough now or just want to be ready when life throws its next curveball, atleast one of these will become your beacon during those rough days.

1. Slow Down to Go Faster

When life feels overwhelming, one of the most important things you can do is slow down. We’re often taught to push through hard times, to keep going no matter what, but this approach can leave us burned out and emotionally drained.

Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up or falling behind. It means shifting your focus to the things that truly matter.

What to do during a low time:

• Set smaller, achievable goals: Instead of trying to tackle everything, identify one or two key priorities that will move you forward. Let go of the less important tasks or postpone them for later.
• Be intentional with your energy: Your energy is limited when you’re going through something tough. Focus it on tasks or activities that align with your long-term goals or bring you a sense of purpose.
• Take breaks: It’s okay to pause. Sometimes, stepping away from the grind—even for a day—gives you the clarity and strength to move forward more effectively.
• Practice patience: Trust that by taking things slower, you’re setting the foundation for lasting progress. Growth doesn’t happen overnight.

The idea is to be ready to slow down on areas that aren’t needle-moving and spend your energy where it matters  - a skill most definitely needed to reach our goals without burning out or stress & keep our business moving forward even when we are in the trenches.

2. Trust Yourself

In challenging times, it’s easy to doubt yourself. Friends, family, or colleagues might offer advice or opinions about how you should handle your situation. While some advice can be helpful, no one knows your feelings, needs, or limits better than you do.

What to do during a low time:

• Filter outside opinions: It’s okay to listen to advice, but be selective about what resonates with you. Don’t feel pressured to act on something that doesn’t align with your instincts.
• Give yourself permission to say no: If something feels overwhelming or doesn’t serve your mental health, it’s okay to decline. This applies to social events, work obligations, or even well-meaning conversations.
• Lean into self-awareness: Spend time reflecting on what you truly need in the moment. Do things your way and not based on the what the world around you thinks you should be doing.

When we go through a tough time, we are weak and vulnerable. It is really hard to have faith in our actions when most of the world outside thinks otherwise but trusting ourselves, the decisions we take for ourselves, and the actions that are a result of it - is a skill we badly need so we can trust our decisions even as we take new turns in our business. 

To slowly turn our low point into a high point, we need to own our decisions, carve our own path, and work independently of others' opinions & influence - an evergreen skill we need for life.

3. Prioritize Your Health—Body and Mind

When life feels overwhelming, it’s tempting to let health take a back seat. But caring for your body and mind is even more essential during low times. As tough as it feels, it gives the strength to keep going. Even small steps toward selfcare can have a huge impact.

What to do during a low time:

• Stick to the basics: Prioritize the essentials: sleep, hydration, and regular meals. When your body gets the fuel it needs, your mind becomes clearer.
• Move your body: Exercise doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. A simple walk, stretching, or yoga can help release tension and improve your mood.
• Practice mindfulness: Activities like meditation, deep breathing, or even spending a few quiet moments with your thoughts can help calm anxiety and bring clarity.
• Don’t isolate yourself: Talking to someone & if social interaction feels too much, try connecting with nature or journaling to process your thoughts.
• Avoid overindulgence: While comfort foods or binge-watching Netflix can help in small doses, balance them with practices that nourish you.

Having a simple exercise routine or just going for a walk in fresh air , some stretches, keeps the body moving and refreshes the mind. It is tough to exercise when our energy is low but that’s the time we most need it and gives us the most benefits. It send positive signals to the brain, elevates the mood, releases endorphins and helps us get more energy. Involving self-care practices can play huge part in getting back stronger and even feeling stronger at that time of going through the rough phase. 

When we prioritise health, esp. mental health, we can perform better and live better even during a low wave.

4. Be Honest and Vulnerable

When you’re going through a low period, it’s natural to want to hide your struggles. Maybe you don’t want to burden others, or you’re afraid of being judged. But sharing your feelings—even just a little—can make a huge difference. Vulnerability fosters connection, and connection is a powerful antidote to loneliness and despair.

What to do during a low time:

• Open up to someone who offers support: The love and support from strangers can sometimes be the healing we need, or the healing we don’t receve from our near and dear ones. Share your true feelings where you feel understood. 
• Be vulnerable: You don’t have to have it all together, or fear being seen as weak. Allow yourself to be seen as you are. To be real and show up even in the low times, is the true way to live. It is liberating to always show up as you feel in your most original avatar.  

Being vulnerable isn’t about oversharing—it’s about being real. When you let others in, you give them the chance to support you, and you remind yourself that you’re not alone.

Being raw and real is a skill that creates life-long friendships, trust in business, and long-lasting bonds. A low point in life is an opportunity to embrace vulnerability and allow it to raise you to that high point. 

Our low points & tough times change us forever. We must be ready to adapt to that change because it is that change that makes us ready for our next high in life. 

Right from using your energy in the right work, slowing down to increase productivity, trusting your decisions, to prioritizing your health and lastly, sharing your low point in 100% raw genuinely, however you feel upto it, are some key ways that can help you navigate through the roughest of times.

The next time you are in a low season of your life, don’t underestimate the power of sadness, grief and fear.  It is a teacher and a life-changer. Tap into the lessons it is teaching you, for such experiences only prepare us for the high season to come. When you think you’re weak, remember you’re actually getting stronger.

Sometimes, we discover ourselves at our lowest points in life. If there is power in happiness, there is strength in sadness. Turn it around with these 4 simple practices.