My Commitment to Sustainability

As a white cis woman, I acknowledge the (unearned) privileges I have because of the systemic advantages within our society. With this awareness, I am committed to actively engaging in the ongoing work of social justice for BIPOC and LGBTQIA people.

I have taken anti-racist courses from Monique Melton. Her work has expanded my knowledge of how white supremacy impacts my own identity (i.e. perfectionism) and harms BIPOC folks. Monique is an incredible anti-racist educator, talented woman and inspiring. Highly recommend investing in her work.

Early in my business, I took courses from Toi Marie Smith to build my understanding of the financial aspect of business. Toi is passionate about everyone having a thriving life, advocates for Black mothers and explains a lot of the challenges with capitalism. I have learned a lot from her about the impacts of capitalism, and that white people have collectively more wealth than BIPOC folks. I encourage you to check out Toi’s work and invest in learning from her!

Organizations I’ve donated to:

2022: The Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde to support their native language program.

2023: joined 1% For The Planet for a year, which advocates for environmental justice and access to nature for BIPOC folks; donated to One Tree Planted for each client project; donated to Depave PDX to support local access to nature in the city.

2024: this year my intention is to donate to The Confederate Tribes of Grande Ronde and local organizations that support BIPOC folks. I’m still deciding! There are so many incredible organizations out there.

As my business grows, I am committed to being mindful of how much wealth I’m generating and will prioritize sharing it. When possible, I will also invest in learning from BIPOC and LGBTQIA folks as I can.

Mindful consumption extends beyond tangible goods to the information and stimuli we absorb daily. As a highly sensitive woman and a solopreneur, I’m finally accepting how much I’m impacted by certain interactions such as social media. I am accepting that it is not that beneficial for me in the long-term. Social media has added to my feelings of inadequacy – which has contributed to me spending beyond my budget to get help in my business. It also requires a significant amount of time and energy.

I’ve also noticed how sensitive I am towards the email newsletters that flood my inbox as well. While I have enjoyed some of them, they are more sensory experiences to process. All of these interactions add up and become emotional layers.

As a sensitive woman, I recognize the power of each scroll and click, understanding that what I consume shapes my energy and creativity. This can also lead to me spending more money than I really want to and lead to feelings of guilt later on. In understanding this, I am choosing to:

Reduce my time on social media this year and not prioritize it within my marketing efforts. By the end of 2024, I hope to phase it out completely.

I’ve unsubscribed from many email newsletters. I now have a folder that filters the ones I get so they skip my inbox, then I can look at them when I feel ready.

Carefully track my expenses – so that I am honest with myself about how much I’m spending and have more for donations in the year.

Being a more mindful consumer is part of creating a gentle business. When I can quiet the noise out in the world, I can have more energy to thoughtfully create from my heart. I care deeply about helping sensitive solopreneurs live a meaningful life that also positively impacts others.

I deeply resonate with the need for a shift in our sales culture. Instead of using capitalistic tactics like urgency and scarcity to make sales, I care more about creating genuine connections.

I envision a world where the pressure to buy is replaced with a space for thoughtful consideration and intentionality. I believe it is possible to be successful without using these high pressure tactics. These are also the same tactics and patterns that have led to a world with exorbitant waste and debt – I cannot participate in that way of selling.

Instead, my intention is to empower my clients to make choices aligned with their true needs and values, rather than giving into fleeting impulses. We can cultivate a culture of mindfulness in consumption, where each purchase is a conscious act of support and contribution to a better world.

As a solopreneur there are true limits as to how many people I can work with at a time, but I will make sure to communicate this honestly. I will only mention limits if absolutely necessary but not as a reason to get someone to make a purchase.