The May magazine is live!! Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness month? Every year, we do a special edition magazine issue that’s entirely focused on discussing the side of entrepreneurship that you don’t see talked about on social media very often. Our goal in this magazine is to share stories about the harder times we all face as business owners. Sharing stories reminds us that we’re not alone and it gives us all a way to learn and grow together, developing techniques that help us prioritize our mental health and thrive in our businesses.
There are three amazing and brave women who share their stories in the May magazine. Mary Kate @wickedcalmcandles was diagnosed with major depression and panic disorder and was nearly put into involuntary inpatient care. Heather @indigoandarrow has battled with anxiety her entire life and has found comfort and structure in her business. Stephanie @stephanie_grams_com lost two children and talks about her journey through heartbreak and healing. We hope this magazine issue is as helpful and as healing for you as it has been for us!
“In 2018, the shadow had completely consumed me and the website of my thriving business went dark…” -Mary Kate
This special edition magazine issue was actually started because of Mary Kate. After seeing her posts on Instagram about being diagnosed with major depression and panic disorder, we reached out and discussed the possibility of sharing her journey in the magazine. She said yes, and that started us on the path to dedicating an entire magazine issue to mental health each year.
The darkness nearly consumed Mary Kate in 2018 and she was on the brink of involuntary inpatient care, but she pushed through it and has now tripled her income. If you’ve ever felt alone in your struggles, Mary Kate is here to remind you that you are not, that there is help, and that you deserve to thrive.
“Today, my business is larger than it has ever been, generating triple the revenue in the past eight months than it did in the last five years No overhead, no lingering stock on shelves, and a growing demand with every product release.”
– Mary Kate Dixon @wickedcalmcandles
“I was not going to settle for defeat or let anxiety control my life anymore…” – Heather
Our second featured seller, Heather, filled out a featured seller application and mentioned that her Etsy shop had helped her overcome her anxiety and get control back over her life. Her anxiety got so bad as a teenager that she was admitted to the hospital and went to see a neuro specialist. Now, she bravely shares her story with her audience which has helped her heal even more.
“Any anxiety and fears that I had about putting myself out there and admitting that I had severe anxiety were gone.”
-Heather Sparks @indigoandarrow
“In 2001, I had the devastating heartbreak that no mother wants to experience, the unexpected passing of my youngest daughter.” – Stephanie
Our third featured seller, Stephanie, also filled out a featured seller application where she talked about losing her two daughters and then starting a sentimental sewing service. She’s turned her heartbreak into a service that helps other people heal and she has great advice for anyone facing extreme pain.
“I really struggled with starting a business for a few reasons: fear of failure, shyness of sharing my journey with heartache, and lack of knowledge as to how to make everything come together. The decision to push through those hinderances came from the realization that I was not going to allow my heartache to be wasted.”
-Stephanie Grams @stephanie_grams_com
Here’s a preview of the goodies inside the May magazine:
Magazine Question of the Month
Last month we asked sellers how their mental health has impacted their business. Read their answers in this month’s magazine! Click here to answer next month’s question and get featured in our June magazine! Product by @austereskincare.
How Mary Kate’s Business Saved Her Life
Mary Kate was diagnosed with major depression and panic disorder and was nearly put into involuntary inpatient care. At that point, she’d shut her business down and lost all hope. Now she’s back, thriving, and sharing her story with everyone.
Getting Out of Your Head and Into Your Life
Samantha from @anxiouslyawesome is sharing her journey with anxiety and learning to become more mindful. She has some great tips for getting into the present moment and reducing the noise in your head.
Podcast Interview with Morgan
Listen in and learn about Morgan’s journey with postpartum depression. We featured her in the September 2020 magazine where she talked about having a thriving business that was making $10,000/month, but behind the scenes, she was suffering. In this podcast interview with Morgan and @craftedtothrive, you get to dive even deeper into her story and learn her advice for anyone suffering from depression.
Never Give Into Anxiety
Heather has suffered from anxiety for most of her life and even went to the hospital for it. She felt like she needed something she could do for herself and starting a business ended up helping her cope and thrive.
How Can Nutrition Support Your Mental Health?
Julia, a registered dietitian, discusses how you can get the nutrients you need to better support your mood, mindset, and overall wellbeing.
Sewing Through Heartache
Stephanie lost two of her children and suffered immensely from heartache. She has some wonderful insights into how you can heal from extreme pain and create a beautiful, purposeful business and life.
The May Newsstand
Get updated on the latest industry news, shopping trends, social media changes, and more!
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