Starting a Business Was the Most Spiritual Thing I’ve Ever Done

I’ve always been drawn to spirituality. In high school, while my friends leaned toward fine arts and sciences, I gravitated toward religion and philosophy, always searching for meaning, purpose, and a deeper understanding of life.

But somewhere along the way, as I shaped my values, I had absorbed some seriously flawed beliefs. I saw the pursuit of money as a necessary evil and equated financial ambition with greed. Business, in my mind, belonged to those chasing wealth, and that didn’t feel like me at all.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Looking back, I cringe at how little I had understood about the creativity, connection, and self-actualization that are at the heart of entrepreneurship. And like all of life’s best lessons, I didn’t learn this through theory. I learned it by diving in headfirst, stumbling through challenges, and experiencing it firsthand.

The Collision of Purpose and Practicality

Years ago, when I pivoted to running a business offering embodiment work, I quickly realized something uncomfortable: I couldn’t just be of service, I had to understand business, too. No matter how much I resisted, the truth was clear. If I wanted to keep doing this work, I had to learn how to sustain it.

Cue a storm of internal struggles. Imposter syndrome. Guilt around charging for my work. Anxiety over pricing. And when money finally did start coming in? A fresh wave of emotions around whether I truly “deserved” it.

Old conditioning whispered that work had to be hard, painful, or draining to be worth anything. Since I loved what I was doing, I struggled to accept that I should be paid for it. Wild, right?

So, I had to do some deep internal work to dismantle these falsehoods. And what I have discovered in the process didn’t just change my business. It transformed my relationship with money, my sense of purpose, and the way I move through life.

Money is Energy

The first breakthrough came when I redefined my relationship with money. I began to see it not as a corrupting force, but as energy: neutral, flowing, and reflective of intention.

Yes, some people accumulate wealth through greed and exploitation. But money isn’t inherently evil. It’s a tool, a current that moves through us. And if I am a person of integrity, someone who values connection, generosity, and impact, then money in my hands can be a force for good. It allows me to support projects, uplift others, and contribute to meaningful change. For example, because I donate a percentage of my revenue to Indigenous services in my area, the more I earn, the more I can give.

This shift in perspective was liberating. It allowed me to receive money without shame, to price my work fairly, and to trust that financial flow does not have to compromise my values. It can amplify them.

Business is Built on Relationships

Entrepreneurship also shattered my illusion of independence. I used to think success was about individual effort, what I could create, what I could offer. But I quickly learned that business, especially in the service world, is about community.

It’s a paradox: You need community to build a thriving business, but a thriving business also creates community. I’ve experienced a profound deepening in my relationships. Entrepreneurship has expanded my world, pushing me beyond my small circle and introducing me to brilliant and captivating people. I am no longer engaging on a surface level. I am building real, heart-centered connections.

And while collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs has been deeply meaningful, the most profound connections have been with the people I serve: my clients, dance participants, and workshop/retreat attendees. The humans who seek my offerings and services have enriched my life in ways I never could have imagined.

Every session, every class, every moment of shared vulnerability has reinforced that business isn’t just about transactions. It’s about human connection.

Creativity, Evolution, and Abundance

I used to associate creativity with artists, musicians, and writers, not business owners. But running my own business has been one of the most creatively expansive experiences of my life.

Entrepreneurship constantly calls for fresh ideas, innovation, and vision. Seeing an idea transform from a spark in my mind to something tangible in the world is deeply satisfying. It’s a process of co-creation with something beyond myself and keeps me centred in my spiritual growth.

It also requires continuous evolution. I’ve had to step outside my comfort zone again and again, stretching into new levels of confidence, skill, and self-trust. And the abundance that flows from this, the steady stream of ideas, opportunities, and inspiration, has been a daily reminder of the limitless potential available to us when we align with our purpose and that which is greater than us.

Self-Care as a Business Strategy

One of the most unexpected and beautiful lessons entrepreneurship taught me? That my own well-being is a business priority.

In the past, I compartmentalized my life: work in one category, self-care in another, relationships and “fun time” in yet another, constantly struggling to balance it all. But building a business that revolves around service forced me to integrate these aspects into one cohesive whole.

If I’m burned out, depleted, or disconnected from myself, I can’t hold space for others in a meaningful way. My ability to serve is directly linked to my ability to stay grounded, rested, and present. So now, self-care isn’t something I squeeze in around work. It’s part of my work, literally scheduled into my work hours. Prioritizing my own well-being isn’t just beneficial for me; it allows me to show up fully for the people I serve.

My friend and I often talk about living life with blurred lines, where work and play, contribution and compensation, self-care and service all weave together seamlessly, creating a life that feels whole, nourishing, and beautifully integrated.

A Spiritual Journey in Disguise

At its core, entrepreneurship has been one of the most profound spiritual journeys of my life full of incredible shifts that I never imagined before beginning.

It has challenged me to unlearn limiting beliefs, to step into my full creative power, and to trust in the flow of abundance. It has deepened my relationships, expanded my sense of purpose, and required me to continuously align with my highest Self.

And perhaps most importantly, it has reinforced a truth I now hold close: The success of my business is a reflection of my own inner growth. The more I stay rooted in integrity, trust, and alignment, the more everything else falls into place.

I set out to create a business, but what I really found was an unexpectedly beautiful path to deeper self-knowing.