Confronting Your Chaos

Did you know your entrepreneurial workplace could be more toxic than the workplace you left due to toxicity? The reality is that everyone has mental health needs just like everyone has physical health needs and the reality is that regardless if a person believes that they won’t experience issues, it doesn’t make it so. As a result, that entrepreneurial workplace has the opportunity to do more damage to a person's well being than they realize. So, how does an entrepreneur hold themselves accountable to the fact that they will experience challenges that will affect their mental health, because through the design of being an entrepreneur, in the first place, they aren’t actually accountable to anyone else but themselves. In this episode, we discuss how one entrepreneur's plans to mitigate gradually onset challenges with mental health will differ from another, but the process to start is the exactly the same to create that plan. Please comment with your experiences with creating your own toxic entrepreneurial workspace and share this episode if you feel others should consider their workplaces. Contact me at SarahKhan.org or Sarah Khan | LinkedIn to learn more.*** Please note, I am not affiliated with the organization that I refer to in this episode, but am extremely confident in recommending their services. If you would like more information about how they strive to "Change Workplaces for good" learn more about their mission and team at Our Team (13factors.ca)

In this episode of Confronting Your Chaos, we go through part 4 which is the conclusion of the Clarity Catalyst Process -- the approach that I use with clients to help them determine the narratives that serve them so they can bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. This is my favourite step, and proves to be the hardest piece to to go through with clients. It often challenges clients about things that will make them so resistant to what I am saying that it could make them feel defensive, and at the same time challenges them to figure out things that will be so enlightening, that they will feel like the biggest weight is taken off their shoulders. I go through a personal story that impacted my decision to become an entrepreneur and to demonstrate how every moment, every situation has more than one narrative, and you will need to choose which one dictates your life. If you would like to learn more about how to apply this process to your narratives, send me a message at [email protected] or via DM at Sarah Khan | LinkedIn Clarity Catalyst Series Narratives Explanation: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-18--Who-Gives-a-BLEEP-About-Stories--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Tangent-e2lcta8 Part 1 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-16--Remember-Your-History-of-Victory--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Part-1-e2krbq9 Part 2 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-19--Whats-Your-Vision--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Part-2-e2lf5oq Part 3 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-20--Your-Stories-That-Made-You--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Part-3-e2lqeal

In this episode of Confronting Your Chaos, we go through part 3 of the Clarity Catalyst Process, which is the approach that I use with clients to help them determine the narratives that serve them so they can bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. The stories that made you are based on events of your past that shaped who you are today. For example, if you say that you're shy, we dive into figuring why that became your narrative. Sometimes this steps involves remembering moments that are not pleasant so remember to access medical and professional advice and support if you are taken hostage by remembering your past. If you would like to go through the clarity catalyst process together, contact me via www.SarahKhan.org or send me a DM at Sarah Khan | LinkedIn For the previous episodes, the links are below. Clarity Catalyst Series Narratives Explanation: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-18--Who-Gives-a-BLEEP-About-Stories--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Tangent-e2lcta8 Part 1 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-16--Remember-Your-History-of-Victory--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Part-1-e2krbq9 Part 2 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confrontingyourchaos/episodes/Episode-19--Whats-Your-Vision--Clarity-Catalyst-Series--Part-2-e2lf5oq

In this episode, we are diving into the second step of the Clarity Catalyst, the process which I go through with clients to determine the narratives that are holding them back and finding the narratives that serve them. For Part 1 of the Clarity Catalyst Series, Remember Your History of Victory, go to: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ysYF9gvyPKb For the 'Tangent' of the Clarity Catalyst Series, Who Gives a *Bleep* About Stories, go to: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/RPJkegvyPKb The second step involves figuring out your goals and your vision by exploring your past. Through this exploration, you determine your legacy and then you determine the steps how to live that that legacy right now, by using an unconventional goal-setting exercise: Writing out your eulogy and obituary If you are ready to dive into determining your narratives, book a complimentary call with me via www.SarahKhan.org or via Sarah Khan | LinkedIn Please subscribe to this podcast via your platform of choice and leave a 5-star review to help me reach others that could benefit from these open discussions about some uncomfortable topics regarding mental dysregulation and entrepreneurship.

Do you believe that changing your stories can serve you to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be, if you are not where you want to be right now? One of the biggest objections I get before I can even go through the steps is because of the idea that because of an individual's stories, that they are not where they want to be in life or the concept that that they are in control of their happiness, for the lack of a better word because they can change those narratives. In this episode, we are going to tangent from the Clarity Catalyst process to explain why exploring narratives is the foundation of the process in the first place. For part one of the Clarity Catalyst Series, the full episode is available here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/mOfDQjHnIKb If you would like to learn about your narratives and how they affect your life, contact me at www.SarahKhan.org or via my LinkedIn Sarah Khan | LinkedIn to book your complimentary call.

Do you fear the dot, dot, dots? You know--the wait, after you send someone an instant message in text or via social media, and you see that they are writing something back because of those dot, dot, dots? If you are like me, and experience anxiousness over the wait and response, and feel that those dots represent more than they should, then this may speak to you. Aside from the research that's associated with the effects of social media, direct messages, the emails that we check too many times a day... as it relates to dopamine dumps, addictions, shortened attention spans, and the need for instant gratification as if it's a measure of our value... there's something else. For something as simple as dots, the fear actually comes with a lot of stories aside from the research and science that we are learning about. In this episode of Confronting Your Chaos, I'm going to share the stories that were actually based on a fear of networking because of what those dots meant to me. It all seemed to begin with not doing in-person networking events for a long time, and then being given the opportunity to go to an in-person networking event after four years, but the fear actually ties back to the tsunami from the earthquakes in the Indian Ocean in 2004. I would love to know your thoughts and learn your stories, so feel free to comment, share and review. If you would like to understand more about the narratives that may be holding you back, send me an email at www.SarahKhan.org or via LinkedIn

This episode is part one of the Clarity Catalyst Series. The Clarity Catalyst is the process that I go through with clients so that they can determine the narratives that are serving them, the ones that aren't, and then learning how to actually change their stories as they bridge the gap between where there are and where they want to be. The process itself is simple. However it takes an awareness that many people think that they have about their stories, but generally aren't the ones that are holding them back. The first step is to think back to the moments that a person felt confident or powerful or at peace or happy, and then detailing all the events surrounding those moments. They need to paint a picture so vivid, that when they need that narrative, and they will need it, then they will know how to access it. If you would like to learn more about your narratives, contact me at www.SarahKhan.org to book your complimentary consult call.

In this episode, we chat about work-life balance. Well, sort of. We actually dive into my last few weeks when I sucked at work-life balance, in real time, because the reality is that life is busy and some of the smallest things can alter your balance. Plus, I give clarification about what work-life balance actually looks like, and it's not as pretty as what may seem on social media. If you would like to chat more about your balance and bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be by exploring your narratives, connect with me via LinkedIn Sarah Khan | LinkedIn or via www.SarahKhan.org If you feel that the topics in this podcast can help others, please rate, review and share as it helps reach others.

Have you ever felt that there are certain people that it takes more effort to engage with? Or are there people that you feel drain your energy, so you actively try not to engage with? I know I have felt and still feel this way sometimes, and as entrepreneur with mental health challenges, this can impact me, personally, as well as my business. It requires mindfulness knowing who you should and shouldn't surround yourself with. In this episode, we'll chat about who may be affecting your business. I'll share a real life example and then provide a couple of simple steps on how to choose your community. If you would like to learn more about the narratives that affect you and how to change those stories, book your complimentary call with me via www.sarahkhan.org or LinkedIn Sarah Khan | LinkedIn

We all need mental breaks sometimes and this isn't just needing a vacation. But, what happens if you experience disorders like depression for example, and even though you know you should have contingencies in place, planning for those takes as much effort as trying to deal with the break and deal with the mental fog to keep moving forward? And, what if you're an entrepreneur whose income is tied directly into you running your business, so when you stop working, your income stops as well? How do you plan and come out of that? In this episode, I share my story that resulted in a two-year breakdown, and the small techniques I learned to pick myself up again, including determining the 'smallest thing' you can do to move, as referenced in this episode: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/hOagLQfwQJb If you would like to chat more about the narratives that may or may not serve you, please contact me via sarahkhan.org or via www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org/ to schedule your complimentary call. Also, I wanted to give a huge shoutout to several connections that I met that gave me the strength to keep moving forward and their respective LinkedIn profiles: Bernice Williams: (5) Bernice Williams | LinkedIn Intentional Connection with Bernice Williams Marvin Okello: (5) Marvin (Marvinho) Okello | LinkedIn Mykal White: (5) Mykal White | LinkedInHome - NUNDA Lucia Harper: (5) LUCIA Harper 🎤 | LinkedIn Kevin Pendergest Kevin Pendergest | LinkedIn

The truth is, it can be exhausting to have a neurodiverse family, regardless if it's you or another member of your family. In addition to the regular day-to-day challenges of managing a family, there is also a need to balance appointments, adjust to difficult social settings, deal with the expectations of others in a way that many people would not be able to understand. But also, you don't want to complain. You don't want to admit that it's hard because you don't want people to think you can't handle it. It leads to people's pity, their avoidance, and especially their unwarranted advice. In today's very personal episode, I talk about the challenges we've experienced as a family to share our experiences, in the hopes that, if you also have a neurodiverse family and you're too scared to admit it, you can find solace in knowing you're not alone with your challenges. Please, comment on, leave a 5-star rating on the podcast platform of your choice, and share so that others can benefit from what I share. You never know who needs to hear this. If you would like to learn more about how to change your narrative, please contact me at www.sarahkhan.org or via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org "I couldn’t actually admit how hard it all was. I couldn’t. I didn’t dare complain of all of the challenges that we were experiencing with my younger son, because I didn’t want people to think that I couldn’t deal with it all. I didn’t want their pity and their unwarranted advice.. I didn’t know what help I needed. I just needed a break, and there was no one there to help because I couldn’t tell them how hard it was. And I felt like a horrible person for wishing that my situation was different." -Sarah Khan, The Depressed Mom Boss

Do you ever think, "I know I should be happy, but..." One of the cornerstones of determining the gap between where you are and where you want to be and building that bridge, is determining what makes you happy. Not because you need to be happy all the time. Not because you're not grateful for your life and the things that should bring you happiness. But because being able define it plays a part in understanding how to access it. In this episode, we chat about the need to compartmentalize our energy as it relates to being low vibe and high vibe (without the woo woo foo foo) and how to determine what brings us happiness when we need to access it as a tool. If you would like to learn more about your narratives and what's holding you back from getting where you are, I have two new client spaces open for you to book. Book a complimentary call at www.SarahKhan.org to learn more.

Often the concept of active listening is thrown around a lot because we recognize that listening is important. However, true listening goes beyond active listening to empathetic listening. Also the differences may seem small, in fact listening from the place of empathy shifts the exchange of communication from speaker and listener to connection and understanding. In this episode, we blast through what is known about active listening, and go into detail about how to become a more empathetic listener, as listed below. If you would like to know more about how to become a more empathetic listener, send me a DM on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org/ Forever grateful, The Depressed Mom Boss To become an empathetic listener, you will need the following. 1. Know your intention. The intention is not to listen but to connect.  2. You need to stop multitasking and focus on the one thing– the speaker. 3.  Pay attention to body language. Empathetic listening is a whole body experience which can actually prove intention. 4.  Be non-judgmental. There is no place for outcomes, assessments or evaluations with empathetic listening. Just create the space for the speaker to share. 5.  Be patient  because empathy and patience are in the exact same sphere, so to be an empathetic listener, you need to be a patient person that is fully present. 6.  Honour the awkward silence. Tolerate it because silence is trust. 7. Stop paraphrasing because it usually isn’t for the benefit of the speaker, but for our own benefit for US to process the information. 8. Don’t make it about you. Empathetic listening isn’t about you. It’s about them.

In this episode, we chat about how the simple phrase, Be Good", became the basis of the insecurities of rejection and how that followed me into entrepreneurship. We touch on RSD, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, which in itself isn't a disorder, but a cluster of symptoms sometimes associated with mental health and ADHD, and how kindness can impact that feeling of rejection. If you would like to learn more about how your narratives can be affected by kindness as your lens, please send me a DM on linked in, Sarah Khan | LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org/

Diversity is a huge subject and it is as much about finding our similarities as it is celebrating our differences. However, what is not spoken of a lot, are the constraints that sometimes exist coming from a different culture, and it's not always because of the new culture that we have moved into, but the one that we have come from. In this episode of Confronting, I share a talk I had given to a network of budding, female entrepreneurs that were immigrants about the importance of mental health on overall wellbeing. If you would like to chat more about some of the challenges that you experience, and the narratives that you have as it relates to coming from another culture, send me a message on my LinkedIn to book a complimentary 30-minute call.

Sometimes it's hard to know if the way that you present yourself in public is the true face of who you actually are. Depending on situations, we change our faces to reflect what we want others to see and although we aren't trying to be deceptive, we are also not being honest with others or even ourselves. In this episode, I talk about perfectionism, and how that was another face of my mental illness. However, I only realized that after coming to terms with the fact that a painful event was not the story I had to live my life by. If you would like to know how to change your narratives, please send me a direct message on my LinkedIn at Sarahkhan-org.

In this episode, The Narratives We Cling To, is the second installment of last week's episode, The Face of Comparison (here is Part 1 of this conversation: ). https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/91VWGGSurIb I discuss how we compare ourselves to others because of a narrative we've told ourselves, with the uncomfortable possibility that we're doing it on purpose to keep us down. We dive into a very personal example for me, recognizing that what we think is the root cause of the comparison, may be something else entirely different. Please comment on, rate, review and share this episode, so that others can benefit from the info that I share. If you would like me to help you determine and change the narratives that don't serve you, send me a DM on my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org

Comparison is a topic that is brought up in the personal growth and development world. Regardless of the work that we do on ourselves and trying to have a positive mindset, the outwardly meek, yet inwardly the most arrogant issue we have is comparison. To some, like myself, it's a another face of my mental health issues. In this episode, we're going to talk about comparison, diving into my mindset because of a mastermind group I am a part of, that 'comparatively, everyone is more successful than me'. Absolutely no one in the group has ever made me feel less than them, and while I know that, I still have a tendency to paint my picture as such. If you would like to learn more about how you can determine the stories you tell yourself because of comparing yourself to others, send me a DM via my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org

Trigger Warning In this episode, there is a very brief discussion about ending one's life. Description: We often feel that we have no other choice other than prioritizing other's needs over our own. And although the reasons that we prioritize those other things are important and justifiable, they are also typically unsustainable, and can have significant negative impacts on our mental health. In this episode, I share one of those times in my life, being sandwiched between the needs of my young son with autism and my aging mother with neurological decline, and how my business and more importantly, my mental health were the casualties. If you or someone else you know suffers from mental health challenges, please reach out to a professional for support. Here are some free resources to access immediately: Cornell University College of Human Ecology: The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada) If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 For First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples Hope for Wellness Help Line (Canada) Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) Wellness Together Canada To connect with a mental health professional one-on-one: call 1-888-668-6810 or text WELLNESS to 686868 for youth call 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to 741741 for adults Mental Health America If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share with others who can benefit from listening to this podcast. If you would like to know more about changing your narratives so that you prioritize yourself first, send me a message on my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org

Feeling like a fraud is talked about often in the personal growth and development space. Often it seems like no matter how much we work on ourselves, this keeps popping up. On this episode, I share my experiences when I was a teen and when I was today-year's old as it relates to playing a sport, and the realization that it's not about ignoring the story of telling yourself you're a fraud. It's about having the resolve to do SOMETHING, in spite of feeling inferior. If you know anyone who can value from what I talk about, please share. And please rate and review on your podcast platform of choice. If you would like to learn more about how you can determine the stories you tell yourself, like feeling like a fraud, send me a DM via my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhan-org

In this episode, I will expand on seven tips for being your own best advocate as it relates to mental dysregulation support. First, I'll share what mental dysregulation is as it is not an actual clinical or medical term and you may be wondering where I came up with it. We dive into some of the early days when I was trying to figure out how to get the best support for my family. We'll discuss why it was so exhausting and the promise I made to share what was learned so someone else wouldn't have go up that steep learning curve. And we'll go into detail with the 7 following tips for advocating for mental dysregulation support: 1. The personal disclaimer 2.Having the notes 3. Bringing a buddy 4. Not diminishing how you are feeling 5. Asking about next steps 6. Being persistent 7. Being kind to yourself To learn more about what I share, message me on my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/SarahKhan-org

Welcome to the premiere episode of Confronting Your Chaos! In this mini episode, we'll share why and how this podcast was created and what one can expect from the series. If you are interested in learning more, or are interested in changing your narrative, head on over to my Linked at www.linkedin.com/in/SarahKhan-org Please feel free to share any comments you may have. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated.