Though burnout is often described as being beyond tired, and in a clinical definition, is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. Janet Diaz shares a perspective and practical insights for chronic illness management while building your dream business that completely reframes how we understand burnout, especially when you're managing autoimmune conditions while building a business.

Janet is the co-founder of Soulcraft Journeys, creating transformational retreat experiences. She has also navigated decades in corporate roles while managing rheumatoid arthritis, ultimately discovering that her biggest challenges led her to exactly where she was meant to be.

What you will learn:

• Why burnout is really about disconnection, not exhaustion
• How to recognize when you're wearing a mask to hide your health struggles
• Why your original plan falling apart might be redirecting you to your purpose
• How chronic illness progression can actually clarify your priorities
• The power of slowing down to reconnect with your inner wisdom
• How to transition from survival mode to building something meaningful
• Why adaptation and resilience are entrepreneurial superpowers

This episode is for you if:

• You feel disconnected from your business purpose
• You're pushing through chronic illness while maintaining a professional facade
• Your original life plan got completely derailed by health challenges
• You're in survival mode as the primary breadwinner with chronic illness
• You're ready to build something that aligns with your authentic self

🎧 Want to learn more about today’s guest?

Connect with Janet Diaz:

Website: https://soulcraft-journeys.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcraft_journeys

Visit CraftedToThrive.com for guest details, key takeaways, and extra links mentioned in this episode.

🌿 If you’re navigating entrepreneurship and chronic illness, or simply craving a more sustainable way to grow your business without sacrificing your health, energy, or self-care priorities, explore Chronically You & Profitable (CYAP).

CYAP is my capacity-first business system designed for women entrepreneurs, creatives, and women with chronic illness who want sustainable growth and burnout support while keeping life and wellness first.

It helps you use your voice and story to build a business with systems and strategies that run smoothly, so your work supports your life, not the other way around.

⭐ Enjoyed this conversation? Leave a review and share it with another CEO woman or creative entrepreneur growing a health-first, sustainable business.

📱 Stay connected: Follow me on Instagram.

Here is where so many of us stand when it comes to building a

2

business beyond a certain timeframe,

is that we believe that it's too late.

3

We feel like it hasn't

happened soon enough.

4

If that's you, this episode is for you.

5

Our guest has the stand.

6

The business you build at whatever age

exists because of everything that has

7

happened before, not in spite of it.

8

Every detour has been a part of

the instruction and the plan.

9

Every breakdown was actually

reconnection with who you really are.

10

You're trying to tell yourself that

you're late, and you missed your window,

11

but what if your story that you're

telling yourself is actually wrong?

12

Janet Diaz just launched Soul Craft

journeys at age 51, the exact business

13

she dreamed of, or something like

it as a kid, she walked the road of

14

building with chronic illness, being

the unexpected breadwinner and finding

15

purpose through every plot twist.

16

Culture says peak performance

happens young, that if you haven't

17

made it by 30 or 40, you're behind.

18

But some businesses can only be built by

someone who's walked a particular path.

19

Some wisdom only comes

through lived experience.

20

Listen for Janet's definition of

burnout that changes everything.

21

Why she calls her journey coming

home to herself and how Soulcraft

22

Journeys could only exist.

23

Now you'll discover that sometimes

the road that you didn't plan

24

becomes the one that leads you

exactly where you're meant to be.

25

So stay tuned.

26

Speaker: Are you tired of hearing

business advice that completely

27

ignores what real life looks like when

you're navigating chronic illness,

28

autoimmune disorders, flareups, medical

appointments, and just life lifeing?

29

Business with chronic illness is for

entrepreneurs who know they're capable

30

of building something meaningful.

31

But need a way to do it that actually

works with their body, not against it.

32

This podcast brings you honest

conversations with founders, CEOs

33

and other bosses sharing their

strategies, adaptations, and lessons

34

they've learned while building

businesses alongside chronic illness,

35

including what worked, what didn't.

36

And what they wish they

had done differently before

37

burnout forced the lesson.

38

I'm your host, Nikita Williams, a globally

ranked podcast host and entrepreneur

39

who's built my business while navigating

chronic illness and helping others do

40

the same without sacrificing themselves.

41

I created this show to open up the

conversations most business spaces avoid.

42

The promise of business with

chronic illness is simple.

43

To show you that you can build a

thriving business with chronic illness

44

and autoimmune disorders without

sacrificing your health, your peace

45

or your profit, you're not behind.

46

You're building differently

and you're in the right place.

47

Nikita Williams: Hey everyone, I'm

excited because I have Janet on the show.

48

I wanted to have her on as

we talked about burnout.

49

Transitioning from corporate or

in a different type of environment

50

to learning a little bit more

about how to make that transition.

51

How does that look like

living with chronic illness.

52

And I got to meet this wonderful person

from this group I'm in and I thought she

53

would be a great guest for us to talk

about this topic from multiple angles.

54

So welcome.

55

Welcome, Janet.

56

Janet Diaz: Oh, thank you so much.

57

I am so happy to be here.

58

Thank you for having me.

59

Nikita Williams: So let's hop in burnout.

60

What does burnout look like, feel

like, or mean for you, just in general?

61

Let's start there.

62

Janet Diaz: Yes.

63

Burnout to me is disconnection.

64

Mm.

65

That is the best way

that I can describe it.

66

Disconnection from my inner

wisdom, disconnection from my,

67

the path that I should be on,

disconnection from my life purpose.

68

Mm.

69

So it's disconnection,

complete disconnection.

70

Nikita Williams: I love that definition

because, I mean, obviously there are.

71

Mental health definitions for

what burnout looks like, like

72

from a scientific medical place.

73

But I definitely think all the things

you just shared, there are aspects

74

of how that shows up in your life.

75

A disconnect from things.

76

It explains to me why if you're

burnout going on vacation doesn't

77

necessarily always fix the issue.

78

Because you're still disconnected

when you get back from the vacation.

79

Right?

80

Like you're still dealing with that.

81

Right.

82

So how has this showed up for you?

83

How has this been a part of your story?

84

Janet Diaz: Yeah, in many different ways.

85

I gotta say that my path with life as

a whole has been full of twists, turns,

86

U-turns, and more than a few speed bumps.

87

I just turned 51 2 weeks ago and

88

Nikita Williams: you don't

look anything like it.

89

I'm just saying.

90

Janet Diaz: Thank you.

91

You're too kind.

92

It's the lighting here.

93

It's great.

94

Nikita Williams: It's not the lighting.

95

It's you.

96

Okay.

97

Let's just,

98

Janet Diaz: thank you.

99

So I think that the best way to share

my story is by the decades, right?

100

That it shaped me.

101

I would say my twenties, my

thirties, definitely my forties.

102

Each decade it has taught me

something different about strength,

103

identity, burnout, and purpose.

104

Right.

105

And how that all ties together.

106

So in my twenties, if this was

a book, I would name it the

107

plan and the first disruption.

108

both speakers: Hmm.

109

Janet Diaz: Right.

110

In my twenties, I had a plan.

111

I would work until I had a baby.

112

I would stay home until my

child reached kindergarten.

113

Then I would start my own

business, something that I had been

114

dreaming to do since I was young.

115

Shortly after I graduated from

college, I landed my first corporate

116

job around the same time I got

married and was diagnosed with lupus.

117

Now the plan depended

on one key assumption.

118

That my husband would be the main

breadwinner that would allow me

119

to follow the carefully crafted

life plan that I had conceived in

120

my head when I was young, right?

121

What I didn't anticipate was that

my husband, he is an amazing human

122

being, but he wasn't yet clear

on he wanted to do with his life.

123

So by the time I turned 30, I had

become the primary breadwinner.

124

I had supported my husband's decision

to buy into a food franchise, even

125

though it paid him roughly what he

would've earned in an entry level Jo job.

126

both speakers: Mm.

127

Janet Diaz: Around the same time,

my health continued to decline.

128

Mm.

129

The autoimmune condition just

progressed to the point where only

130

biologic injections and steroids could

control the inflammation and pain.

131

My mornings were unbearable.

132

My hands so swollen that I

struggled to hold a toothbrush

133

or grease the steering wheel.

134

I mean, I had to become so, um,

creative in the way that I would

135

hold things just because my hands

would just not be able to close.

136

But as a true Capricorn, I would

say that I continue to push forward.

137

I continue to climb the corporate ladder.

138

I earned my MBA.

139

Even while living with this relentless

pain that my body was experiencing.

140

So that was my twenties

mm in my thirties, right?

141

I would say that this

was decade of motherhood

142

loss and survival mode.

143

At 30, I gave birth to my

first daughter, Arabella.

144

What would've been a time of

joy, uh, became really one of

145

the hardest periods of my life.

146

I experienced one of the worst

autoimmune flares I've had, and

147

I ended up returning to work when

my baby was just three months old.

148

And that was, to me, the

beginning of experience with

149

depression, with disappointment

and also emotional disconnection.

150

Mm.

151

That was the very first time that I really

was aware that this of the disconnection.

152

both speakers: Mm.

153

Janet Diaz: So.

154

Here I was.

155

I was the main breadwinner.

156

I carried the medical insurance, everyone

depending on me continuing to work.

157

And around this time I was

given a different diagnosis.

158

I was diagnosed with severe

rheumatoid arthritis.

159

At 33, I gave birth to my

second daughter, Clarissa.

160

Um, but eight months into the

pregnancy, I was laid off.

161

Initially, that loss of identity as

a professional really devastated me.

162

But after Clarissa was born,

something started to shift.

163

I am a positive person through and

through, so I've always tried to look

164

for the server lining and things,

and the server lining here was that

165

for the first time in a long time.

166

I saw an opening, right?

167

I'm like, this is my chance to stay home

with my girls and just fulfill that part

168

of me that wanted so much to do that.

169

In the meantime, my husband had sold

a business and we were only to recoup

170

only the initial investment that we

had done, and then he took on a job

171

as a sales rep at a food wholesaler.

172

Detail here is that his income,

instead of going up, it just started

173

to decline month after month, year

over year, and we survived with

174

depleting by depleting our savings

and degradating my E-Trade account.

175

Don't get me wrong, I was grateful

to be home with my daughters, but

176

the financial stress became constant

and my autoimmune condition just

177

flared nonstop when Clarissa was two.

178

I restarted my job search and by the

time she was three, I landed a role, one

179

that required a move to Austin, Texas.

180

And the job offer paid, paid three

times what my husband was earning.

181

So the choice was clear.

182

At least that's how we thought

of it at the at that time.

183

So we packed up our home, said goodbye

to our family, and started over.

184

Now.

185

My forties, I would say that my

forties has been about breaking

186

down awakening and then reinvention.

187

So my new job in Austin was

very intense and high pressure.

188

My manager was neither

supportive nor kind.

189

Hmm, and as distress mounted.

190

My health worsened.

191

Right?

192

And this is where I started

really noticing the pattern

193

that my conditions had with.

194

The amount of stress that I

was carrying on my shoulders.

195

So my rheumatoid arthritis

progressed further.

196

I began chemotherapy to suppress my immune

system enough so that I could function.

197

I would go to my monthly infusions right

after that, I would go back to work.

198

Nikita Williams: Mm-hmm.

199

Janet Diaz: And this was the time

where we had to go into the office.

200

Remote work was not

201

Nikita Williams: a thing,

202

Janet Diaz: a thing.

203

So I had to be in the office five

days a week, and I was also diagnosed

204

with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.

205

At work.

206

I wore a mask, an armor, nobody,

nobody knew what was going on with me.

207

Nobody knew what I was enduring

physically or emotionally.

208

And I basically survived

by turning inward.

209

I became obsessed with healing.

210

I devoured books on self-help,

self-care, alternative modalities.

211

I studied how the mind,

body, and spirit intersect.

212

Yeah.

213

And how healing required

addressing all three, not just one.

214

After many years, I ended up

changing jobs this time to a

215

company with a healthy culture.

216

And for the first time in my career I felt

like I could speak openly about my health.

217

Hmm.

218

I took a leave of of absence,

medical leave of absence.

219

During that time, everything changed.

220

I travel, I slowed down.

221

I reconnected with my core essence

and my purpose, and I realized that my

222

truth, which was I love coaching people.

223

I love intentional travel, and

I love helping others reconnect

224

with their own inner wisdom.

225

both speakers: Mm

226

Janet Diaz: One conversation with

my sister Yvette sparked everything.

227

We began dreaming about creating

transformational retreats and spaces

228

where people could heal, reflect, and

reconnect in beautiful se setting.

229

And that's how Soulcraft

Journeys was born.

230

It was our dream to, to create something

that was born out of our shared

231

passion for living with intention

and helping others do the same.

232

So just looking back at my story, it's

not really about, and my past, it's

233

not really about illness or struggle.

234

It's really about.

235

Adaptation about resilience and

really coming home to myself.

236

So every detour taught me something.

237

Every breakdown carried the seed of

reconnection with my true essence.

238

And you know, they say that, uh,

239

Completely because every decade brought

me closer to the work that I was

240

always meant to do, which is what Soul

Craft journeys is allowed me to do.

241

Nikita Williams: Yeah.

242

Janet Diaz: And sometimes, you know, the

road that you didn't plan for becomes.

243

You know, the one that leads you

exactly where you're meant to be.

244

Nikita Williams: I mean,

there's so much in there.

245

I think I had to chuckle in my head when

I heard you say, well, the plan was,

246

this is how my book of the, my plan is.

247

And I joke with my friends, and

I say this too with clients, like

248

I think we all, especially if.

249

You're an eldest daughter, type

A, very focused, very driven.

250

If you are children of a byproduct of

immigrant, of immigrants who came here.

251

Like we all have a very focused

process for our plan of how

252

we think we are going to be.

253

And then when something comes into the.

254

Of that plan, and this is where my

question is gonna be for you, is when

255

we look at our plan and we're like,

oh wait, the plan has been shifted

256

because life has thrown something

completely unbeknownst to me.

257

Did you find that when you

started dealing with like some

258

of the health challenges and.

259

When hubby's the idea of what hubby looked

like in a marriage, all of that shifted.

260

Did your plan shift or was it in your

head like, no, I'm still gonna make this

261

plan work because that's what I planned?

262

Janet Diaz: Yeah, no,

it definitely shifted.

263

It shifted into survival, into what is

it that I need to do at this moment?

264

Nikita Williams: Mm-hmm.

265

Janet Diaz: The next month,

the next year, so that I could.

266

Survive and provide for my family.

267

both speakers: Yeah,

268

Janet Diaz: because that became

the biggest challenge for me.

269

It was my whole family.

270

We're four.

271

My whole family depends on me.

272

The health insurance is under my name.

273

You know, it's like everything.

274

Right?

275

So it had to shift.

276

Mm-hmm.

277

Shift, which is when I look back in

my early thirties and I say that,

278

that was when I started realizing.

279

You know, the disconnection.

280

It was because I was aware that, how

that felt, the disconnection from what

281

I really, because I knew early on in

my parents will tell you, all I wanted

282

to do was to have my own business when

I was a child and I would be selling

283

stuff and I would actually, my sister

Yvette, she was my first employee.

284

both speakers: I love

285

Janet Diaz: it.

286

This is a funny story because I'm hopeful

you get to meet Yvette because she is a

287

character and, um, at some point, so at

this point I had in high school, I had.

288

My mom was a seamstress and

I had her create scrunchies

289

'cause it's was the nineties.

290

So, you know, everybody had scrunchies.

291

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

292

Janet Diaz: But I had her create or

sell for me, humongous scrunchies.

293

And nobody could find, at least in

Puerto Rico, humongous scrunchies.

294

So I started selling humongous

scrunchies of all different colors.

295

So I would, I would tell my mom just to,

whatever scraps of fabric was left from.

296

Her sewing just make me scrunchies.

297

Mm.

298

So, you know, the investment

was on my part zero.

299

It was all profit.

300

both speakers: Yes, it was all profit.

301

Janet Diaz: It was all a profit.

302

Um, and then I started selling.

303

So I left the scrunchie business behind

and then I started selling candy.

304

And then that's when I hired my sister.

305

I said, okay, I can sell, but

you can also sell as well.

306

So then I created this whole accounting,

um, method of, you know, counting

307

every single piece of candy that we

would take in the morning to school.

308

And then every afternoon my hobby

was, you know, counting back the,

309

the, all the candy would, that was

not, and all the candy that was.

310

So every single day there was a

discrepancy with the amount of candy and

311

money that my sister would bring back.

312

Because she would eat the candy.

313

So it was this thing where she would

not confess to the fact that she

314

was eating the candy, but the candy

was missing and there was no money.

315

both speakers: Oh, goodness.

316

Janet Diaz: So anyway,

it, it was fantastic.

317

We, that lasted for a while.

318

We were able to buy our

first pair of inline skates.

319

Which had just come out and we were

able to buy each other a pair and, um,

320

anyway, but she, she still chuckles

from, from the stories of, you know,

321

there was no candy and no money

because she's eating all the candy.

322

Nikita Williams: It's

so interesting how our.

323

Little versions of us come back

full circle every single time.

324

I have really appreciated that

about doing these conversations

325

with people like women.

326

Just hearing how some essence of them

flips away goes back in the back.

327

Right.

328

And then.

329

When, and I don't say every woman

experienced this, but I think every

330

woman who starts to become more aware

of their inner voice, their actual

331

desires, their actual strengths, that

those things come back into place.

332

And I definitely think when you live

with chronic illness and when you

333

are in fight or flight, when you are

in survival mode, those things kind

334

of are the first things to kind of

like go to the background because.

335

We don't technically think we have

capacity for them, and they're

336

not like giving us what we need.

337

But in your journey as of now, have

you seen how those little versions

338

of you back then are they were

still there in the survival mode.

339

They are still, they still gave you

skill sets of what you had to have

340

in that season of survival mode.

341

But how are you.

342

Tapping into that, as you've grown

to where you are as you launched

343

this business with your sister,

what does that look like now?

344

Janet Diaz: Well, you know, one of the

biggest lessons that I've learned is

345

that, or that I've had to come to terms

with, is the fact that I'm not late.

346

Nikita Williams: Ooh.

347

I love it.

348

Say it again.

349

The fact that you're not late.

350

Janet Diaz: Late.

351

Yes, correct.

352

Because, you know, here I am, I'm 51 years

old and but the very first, not the first

353

time in my life because I did it when I

was young, but consciously as an adult,

354

I'm giving myself permission to say.

355

Let's go do this.

356

Let's go follow where your real

life purpose path is, right?

357

And that has took time, that took a lot

of talks with my inner self, that talk,

358

that took a lot of getting rid of fear

359

because it's super easy to say.

360

You know, but am I too late, right?

361

Mm-hmm.

362

I am not in my twenties.

363

I am not in my thirties.

364

I'm, you know, now into my fifties.

365

Am I late?

366

So one of the things

is that I am not late.

367

I am exactly at the right

moment where I need to be.

368

And that's why I, I mentioned before

that to me, every single detour,

369

every single lesson, every single door

that got closed, it was those signals

370

for me to really get to this point.

371

And now I can say that a lot of

the fears that I had regarding.

372

My ability to really say, is this

something that it's feasible to do?

373

Because it combines everything that I

love to do, which is helping people,

374

assisting people with things that I

have done for years that I've never,

375

you know, really thought about.

376

Even being valuable because

that's just me, you know?

377

Like sharing what I've learned

along the way and how can I do this?

378

How can I do this at a bigger scale?

379

How can my impact to be bigger?

380

So it has taken a long time to get to

where I am, but again, it's trusting.

381

Divine timing that I'm not late.

382

Nikita Williams: I mean, just that,

I mean, how does that awareness

383

and I think framing and perspective

shift how you move with that?

384

Knowing of like, I'm not late.

385

I'm just doing what I need

to do, what I want to do now.

386

I think so many of us constantly,

and I think this is a constant thing,

387

Janet Diaz: yes,

388

Nikita Williams: that leads to

burnout, is because I personally

389

think we all think we are late.

390

We all think we are not doing enough.

391

We all think we're behind we all.

392

So we start adding all of

these things to our plate.

393

We start trying to do everything that we

need to do, whatever that might look like.

394

And all while managing a lot of things

that require time and we're constantly

395

feeling like we're late, we're behind.

396

So how are you, or what have been some

things that you have used to refrain,

397

like reframe that narrative because.

398

I don't think, for me personally,

it's something like I actively

399

think that I'm saying, oh, I'm late.

400

My actions tell me that.

401

I feel like that.

402

If I look at when I feel most overwhelmed,

it's the feeling like I'm late and I'm

403

behind I, and that's honestly the feeling.

404

And so.

405

When you acknowledge that and you see

that, what have you found are some

406

practices or framing that helps you to

be like, no, I'm just where I'm at and

407

where I should be and move from there?

408

Janet Diaz: Well, I would say

things that keep me grounded.

409

We know a lot of this, it's

mindfulness activities, right

410

to.

411

This moment, things like that, journaling,

affirmations, things of that nature.

412

But I would say that the biggest thing

for me has been really making a conscious

413

decision to tap into my inner self.

414

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

415

Janet Diaz: My inner

voice and my inner wisdom.

416

And that is not a one-time

thing that is a practice.

417

So how do I do that?

418

Well, I look for moments

where I'm able to do that.

419

For example, intentional travel, right?

420

Anything that takes me personally away

from my daily activities, things that

421

I just do in, you know, in a mode of

422

Nikita Williams: living

423

Janet Diaz: day to day pilot

424

Nikita Williams: doing things.

425

Yeah.

426

Janet Diaz: Mm-hmm.

427

Exactly.

428

Living day to day in autopilot, anything,

every time that I am away from this

429

environment is an opportunity for

me to ground myself and really start

430

connecting and tapping into my inner

self because your inner wisdom is

431

what's going to allow you to release.

432

The fear, fear release, the I Am Late,

release some of the burnout, that it's not

433

only experienced in a corporate world or

managing your business or in your personal

434

life, it really comes down to that.

435

So I would suggest looking for

opportunities to ground yourself so that

436

you can listen to your inner wisdom.

437

I mentioned intentional travel.

438

That's one that it's useful to me.

439

Mm-hmm.

440

The other one, it's the

mindfulness activities that I do.

441

Right.

442

I am a huge fan of civil therapy,

which is nature healing, which is, you

443

know, go out there, go to the park.

444

Just walk around, go to the, you know,

if there's a lake, if there's a creek,

445

whatever, there's a huge tree that is

just so beautiful and it's calling to you.

446

Go hug it.

447

Go hug the tree,

448

both speakers: hug that tree,

449

Janet Diaz: go hug that tree.

450

You see me hugging trees that just,

they just, they call to me and I would

451

just go and I would just embrace a tree.

452

I would just thank.

453

The tree for tree, for being

there, for being grounded.

454

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

455

Janet Diaz: Right.

456

And that just again, brings me

back to who my true self is, my

457

inner essence, my true north.

458

Mm-hmm.

459

And when you listen to your inner

voice and when you really start

460

connecting, what energizes you?

461

With what sort of the things that

I'm passionate about, with doing

462

certain things that support that,

and every single moment that, that

463

you are experiencing, that you're

reconnecting with your inner self.

464

Nikita Williams: Hmm.

465

I think

466

Janet Diaz: so.

467

I,

468

Nikita Williams: I love it.

469

I, I love the go hug a tree.

470

I mean, that's gonna be like a clip that

we say, you know, go hug a tree people.

471

But I love where you're coming from

because, yeah, I think intentional

472

travel, I know that's a lane that you

and your sister and your business, like,

473

that's a part of your business of where

you're helping people connect with that.

474

I also think though, it's kind of like

in the industry of mindset, personal

475

development, when we hear self care,

we hear a lot of like, I call it

476

fluffy things, and it's like, and I say

fluffy, they may not be fluffy to you.

477

I get it.

478

But for me, getting a massage

isn't necessarily like a moment

479

of like most times isn't for me.

480

Self care.

481

It's a care.

482

It's caring for myself, but it's

not a luxury kind of experience that

483

most people think I do it so that

my body can function day to day.

484

Right.

485

It's not, it's for that space,

but I think when we hear.

486

The word about intentionally

listening to yourself.

487

You have to quiet the noise.

488

Like I think that's the

overall thing you're saying.

489

It's like you need to get

outta whatever the environment

490

is to actually hear yourself.

491

Maybe that's traveling

and be in a space away.

492

Maybe that is going on a

walk and hugging a tree.

493

Maybe that is,

494

Janet Diaz: yes,

495

Nikita Williams: all of those things,

but I definitely believe that.

496

There's noise and the noise

is also happening in our head.

497

How have you found that's helpful for you?

498

Distinguishing what voice of that

noise is yours and what's not?

499

Janet Diaz: Oh, that is a great question.

500

It takes practice.

501

Nikita Williams: Mm.

502

Janet Diaz: And it's not a one time thing.

503

Nikita Williams: Mm-hmm.

504

Janet Diaz: And it takes conscious.

505

Going back to what allowed that to happen.

506

both speakers: Mm.

507

Janet Diaz: That awareness of what's

that noise and what's the real

508

thing that you need to be doing?

509

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

510

Janet Diaz: I, you know,

you use the word noise.

511

I like to use the word labels,

like we have so many different

512

labels, you know, where.

513

We are partners, we are mothers,

we are sisters, we are, you

514

know, part of a community.

515

We're employees.

516

You know, we we're all these

different labels, right?

517

And yes, that is part of who you are

at this moment, but that is not part of

518

your true essence, your true essence.

519

It's not outside of

you, your true essence.

520

It's that individual light.

521

That each of us carry.

522

So to me that's the most important

thing to be able to connect to, that

523

you have to be in a place that you

feel like you have no labels, right?

524

You feel, and most of this

thing is done by yourself.

525

You can do these activities with

like-minded friends, with, you

526

know, soul sisters, you can, 'cause

that's def there's magic in that.

527

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

528

Janet Diaz: And I absolutely

endorse that magic.

529

I've seen it, I've lifted,

I, you know, it's, it's real.

530

But a lot of the.

531

When you are in that quiet with just

yourself, that's when your loudest voice

532

can come through for you to understand

what it's really going to help you,

533

what really is meaningful for you.

534

Yeah, as you the person, not you the wife,

you the partner, you the employee, you are

535

the mom, you are the sister, the daughter.

536

All the different labels, all

that different noise, it's you,

537

anything that will get you to that

point, it's absolutely necessary.

538

It's not a luxury.

539

Mm-hmm.

540

Nikita Williams: It's

541

Janet Diaz: not,

542

but it is a practice.

543

Mm-hmm.

544

Right.

545

And when, when I hear you say, you

know, a massage, yes, I agree with you.

546

But let's take, for instance, you are

getting that massage near a beach,

547

and the only sound that you hear

are the waves coming in and out.

548

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

549

Janet Diaz: Which your body automatically

starts breathing in the same pattern.

550

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

551

Janet Diaz: As the waves

come in and out of.

552

The sand.

553

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

554

Janet Diaz: So your body is in tuning

with Earth, is in tuning with nature.

555

And guess what happens

during that massage?

556

All of a sudden you

start having these ideas.

557

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

558

Janet Diaz: About, you know, oh,

but wait, I really liked, you know

559

when, I remember when I used to.

560

Love to paint.

561

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

562

Janet Diaz: And I remember where I,

when, you know, it was so lovely to draw.

563

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

564

Janet Diaz: Or it was so lovely just

to write a poem or whatever it is.

565

That it's part of that

essence starts coming through.

566

Yeah.

567

But you have to be in a, or it's ideal.

568

Not that I have, you have

to, let me not use that word.

569

Ideally it would be in a setting

that lets you quiet the noise,

570

intentionally step away from all the

labels intentionally so that you can

571

intentionally hear your own voice.

572

Nikita Williams: I a hundred

percent agree with you, and I would

573

share from my own experience with.

574

Starting to be more attuned to what

that voice is, is that the things you

575

resist the most are often the things

that your inner is trying to tell you.

576

Like, no, we need to

pay attention to that.

577

Right?

578

The thing you resist or the

thing that you can't quite.

579

Put your finger on.

580

It's almost oftentimes I have found for

myself the thing I need to kind of gear

581

in on and like start getting curious

about, well, why do I feel that way?

582

Why is this coming up?

583

Like, the more I'm curious

about what is that?

584

Conflict or that resistance, the

more clear I get to hearing, oh, this

585

label is not the label I'm trying

to, or my vo That voice isn't mine.

586

I ch I, I choose not

to believe that voice.

587

Right.

588

I choose not to believe that label

for everything that I'm gonna do.

589

And I think that's what you're saying.

590

You need to put yourself

in a space mm-hmm.

591

Where you're intentionally.

592

Because I think when you first start in

this process, you're gonna resistance

593

are gonna be so and so loud like.

594

What?

595

Talking Nikita and Janet?

596

What do you mean hear my voice?

597

I, I it there and I, I'm curious

to, what is suggestion for someone

598

who is like, started this practice?

599

Just give myself week,

600

once a week.

601

Y'all didn't say every

day yet, but once a week.

602

Five minutes to just

like be with yourself.

603

If they're feeling resistance or

if they're like, like, it's not

604

working because I've had clients

say, it's not working, Nikita.

605

I'm like, oh, it's working.

606

What would be your, from your personal

experience that you have found for

607

them to lean into to try differently?

608

Janet Diaz: I would say

prioritize yourself.

609

Prioritize yourself.

610

At least, I know you're saying a

week, but try to, you know, five.

611

10 minutes a day because the more you do

it, the more you are retraining your body.

612

And this is so true for us as women

who we carry so much, we carry so much.

613

And that's not to negate.

614

What men also carry, but we carry things

differently and it is supremely important

615

for us to find intentionally that five,

10 minutes a day to prioritize yourself.

616

Now, whether that means sitting

down with a cup of coffee, no foam.

617

No newspaper.

618

No iPad.

619

No tv.

620

Just five minutes with a cup

of coffee or your favorite tea.

621

Just sit down and drink it.

622

Mm-hmm.

623

both speakers: That's it.

624

Janet Diaz: That's it.

625

Five, 10 minutes.

626

That's it.

627

And you are training yourself, because

the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

628

And I know that it, people say that

about a lot of things, but it's,

629

it's, they say it because it's true.

630

Nikita Williams: Yes.

631

Yeah.

632

Janet Diaz: Right?

633

It's, you ha there're these, uh,

habits that we have to relearn

634

because of a lot of societal.

635

Expectations.

636

Mm-hmm.

637

Family expectations.

638

You know, we're taught to prioritize

others before, uh, ourselves, and

639

we have to somehow unlearn that.

640

And to me, an easy way to do it is

just start five, 10 minutes a day.

641

Just focus on yourself.

642

Nikita Williams: I love that.

643

And I also am going to only put a little,

the key to spin on it, because I think

644

that is a great practice to get to.

645

Honestly, like if you could do it

every day, five minutes, great.

646

But for some of us, that commitment

for doing every day is so hard to give

647

yourself permission for like it is,

it feels like, like it feels like.

648

Painful at some emotional level for us.

649

I'll, and I'll share personally,

like for example, when I'm working

650

with my therapist, just like take

10 minutes to feel the feelings.

651

I'm like, girl, that, that seems

really impossible right now.

652

Like I cannot.

653

Sit in these feelings for 10 minutes.

654

That's insane to me.

655

Like when she told me and I was like,

girl, I, I know about 10 minutes.

656

She's like, well just do it for

longer than you normally do it

657

and keep trying to increase it.

658

So I have found that has been

super helpful to just give

659

yourself five minutes a day.

660

And that seems like scary to you or

that feels like impossible to you.

661

Maybe it's two minutes.

662

And you're doing it every single

day and you're working up to the

663

five or the 10 minutes or whatever,

but make it a part of something

664

you're working towards over time.

665

Because if you're not used to fitting

with yourself, if you're not used to

666

listening to yourself without all the

labels popping up, that can feel actually

667

really scary and overwhelming because

I think if we don't give ourselves some

668

permission to like work up to that.

669

We'll spend judging ourselves that we

haven't, and judging ourselves that we

670

aren't doing it fast enough, and then it

becomes a thing that's just more noise.

671

Right.

672

Versus the helpful.

673

I'm with me, and that's

safe and that's okay.

674

And so I just wanted to offer that because

I definitely think every day builds a

675

habit, but sometimes for many of us,

there's a lot of reasons why being with

676

yourself can feel extremely uncomfortable,

because that's not an environment that

677

you have been conditioned to be okay with.

678

Right.

679

So I just wanted to share that

if anyone's listening, because I.

680

That aspect.

681

Aspect and already feeling a little

bit like, oh my gosh, I can't do that.

682

You're not alone in that.

683

I'm here with you in your business with

your sister, which I'm super excited.

684

You all are creating spaces where this can

be done within community as they travel.

685

Tell us a little bit more about what

that looks like and where you guys

686

like what's coming up for you all.

687

Janet Diaz: So we just, this past

weekend, we just launched our website.

688

We're super excited.

689

It's soulcraft journeys.com

690

and in it you will find really

what our mission is over, you

691

know, if I had to summarize it in

a sentence, is self craft journeys.

692

Just craft intentional travel experiences,

retreats, but we call them journeys.

693

Because we have intentionally designed

three different kinds of journeys.

694

You know, some of us are really find

that it's an environment that it's more

695

healing, one that it's more quieter.

696

That's really focused on attuning

with your inner voice, others.

697

In environments that where they can not

only get a massage, right, but they can

698

also do some yoga and do some journaling.

699

Mm-hmm.

700

Or some breath work, which is so important

for grounding and centering yourself.

701

But many of us also like to express

ourselves through body movement.

702

Mm-hmm.

703

And hiking and kayaking and

doing just physical activity.

704

So for that, we have the

explore journey that.

705

Does lend itself to that joy in creativity

to really shine through, if that's your,

706

what you are most comfortable with.

707

So what we do is we,

of all these years of.

708

Learning that we've been able to do.

709

I have created a method which I

call the soul craft, um, experience.

710

And every single journey goes,

there's an aspect of that method

711

and there's a four step method.

712

So that is grounding needs, release

is reconnection with yourself,

713

and all of our journeys have that.

714

So not only do women get a chance to

travel intentionally, but also when they

715

arrive, they arrive at a place where

everything has been planned and they don't

716

have to be thinking about, you know, oh

my gosh, what am I gonna have for dinner?

717

What am I gonna do right now?

718

You know, everything has

been planned for them and.

719

In addition to a lot of time for

self-reflection because it's so

720

important, again, when you know you get

a lot of ideas and you do get a lot of

721

insight from doing the civil therapy

and being outdoors and doing all these

722

things that do help you to reconnect

with yourself, but also that period of.

723

Just being with yourself, whether that

being you going out for a walk by yourself

724

or with community, and we are keeping

this journeys intentionally small.

725

So that we are able to assist and be

there also with people that might either

726

come in solo or it is their first time

trying something that is not a vacation.

727

Nikita Williams: Mm-hmm.

728

Janet Diaz: Right.

729

Because with vacation.

730

You know, sometimes

equates to a lot more work.

731

Nikita Williams: Yes.

732

Unless you're going on a cruise.

733

I have learned yes, you're

going different, but anything

734

else feels like a lot of work.

735

Yes, I agree with you.

736

Janet Diaz: Yes, yes, yes.

737

So we're like, okay.

738

We, my sister also, uh, worked as a travel

agent for many years, so she has that.

739

Uh, there's so many, which is why,

you know, it's when you really give

740

yourself time to explore what it is

that it's possible for you to make an

741

impact, the answers will come from you.

742

Nikita Williams: Yes.

743

Janet Diaz: And the answers came from us.

744

It's like, okay, travel and support.

745

Nikita Williams: Yeah.

746

Janet Diaz: Community and sisterhood

and not stress and you know,

747

how can we offer all of that

748

Nikita Williams: mm-hmm.

749

Janet Diaz: In a way that does not

feel intimidating, that it feels

750

safe, that it feels practical.

751

Right.

752

That really resonates with.

753

Them.

754

both speakers: Mm-hmm.

755

Janet Diaz: And that's something that

we wanted to do from the, you know,

756

while we're designing these things.

757

It's like, I don't, we don't, which

is why we don't call them retreats.

758

We don't want to be just another

person planning on hosting retreats.

759

That's not what we want to do.

760

We want to help the women that come

in our journeys after the retreat.

761

So that within the few days that we're

together, they feel that they have access

762

to tools that they can then go, once they

come back to the noise, to all the labels.

763

No.

764

What, five, 10 minutes a day or a week

or whatever that looks like for you.

765

That will continue to allow yourself,

when you take a pause, you can

766

reconnect to that inner voice, which

is so important for you to be able to,

767

because your heart, your inner wisdom,

it's what's going to allow you to

768

move forward with your life purpose.

769

So when you first asked me what burnout

meant for me, that's why I used the

770

word disconnection, because burnout

is a message that you are being told

771

that what you're doing right now

might not be in your best interest,

772

might not be tied or connected or

aligned to the work that you are here.

773

Nikita Williams: To do.

774

That is a huge, huge thing, and I love

that you guys are creating that space

775

for women to come and experience that

and then keep the community aspect

776

as a place for them to go afterwards.

777

I always feel like that with.

778

Conferences and retreats because you know

you have that high, you go to a conference

779

and you have that high when you go to

retreat and then you go back to real life.

780

I actually have a client who just finished

a retreat and she's like, I was so happy.

781

And then she came back and she's like,

girl, I got like so disconnected already.

782

And I was like, oh honey.

783

Really important doing there because.

784

In whatever shape or form.

785

So I love you guys are bringing like

the this and like, yes, go experience

786

this in an intentional travel way,

but also bring some of those practices

787

and we'll support you even after that.

788

I think that's a beautiful addition

and as a beautiful like differential

789

for what we see that's happening in the

world because we do, I think whether

790

you're an introvert or an extrovert.

791

Like healing and coming to understand

yourself often happens in very intentional

792

spaces with other like-minded people

wanting to work on those things as well.

793

So I think it's great.

794

And I also think your whole point from

the beginning to now, that burnout

795

is a part of a disconnection and I

really do believe that that is such a

796

really powerful thing that you said.

797

If anything, I think anyone takes

away from this conversation is that.

798

Because you go on the retreat just

because you go to the conference

799

and you take the vacation.

800

If you don't actually deal with the

part is disconnecting from where

801

you actually need to be, and I don't

like to use the word, but where

802

you're most aligned, it sounds like

the burnout will still be there.

803

Be so what a beautiful kind of like, come

around to meet each other and all that.

804

I, I really appreciate you

sharing your story and sharing on.

805

Connection and knowing.

806

Janet Diaz: Yes, of course.

807

And it's been such a pleasure

talking to you, Nik, meeting you.

808

I really hope we get to connect

personally in the future.

809

And I really want you to meet my sister.

810

You're gonna have the best time

talking to her because she is a really,

811

really, somebody very, very special.

812

And I don't say that just

because she's my sister.

813

She's really.

814

Oh, she's a wonderful, wonderful human.

815

Nikita Williams: I love it.

816

I love it.

817

Well, I can't make wait to meet her.

818

We will have all of the information

on how everyone can come to learn

819

more about you and soul craft

journeys and about the business.

820

I can't, I, I can't wait to

check out the website 'cause I

821

didn't know you had it up yet.

822

So that's exciting.

823

Is there anything else you want our

audience to hear before we say goodbye?

824

Janet Diaz: To trust in your inner.

825

Intuition, listen to it, and

it will never steer you wrong.

826

It would always point to.

827

Your highest purpose and

your true north, so trust it.

828

Nikita Williams: Well,

thank you so much, Janet.

829

Thank you so much for being here.

830

Janet Diaz: Thank you so much, Nikita.

831

Nikita Williams: That's a wrap for this

episode of Business with Chronic Illness.

832

If you enjoyed this conversation,

be sure to follow the show, share it

833

with a friend, and leave a review.

834

It helps more entrepreneurs living with

chronic illness and autoimmune disorders.

835

Find these conversations.

836

You can check the show notes for links,

resources, and ways to stay connected.

837

And if you have a question

or story you'd like to share,

838

visit crafted tool thrive.com

839

to leave a voice message for the podcast.

840

I'd love to hear from you.

841

Until next time, remember, you can build

a thriving business without sacrificing

842

your health, your peace, or your profit.