Behind the Booth: Spirals, Signs & Showing Up Anyway

July 5, 2025 Tracy Anderson

A Heart-to-Heart from Your Intuitive Joy on market prep, mindset shifts, & navigating the unknown

It’s been a little bit since I last shared with you, in fact, the last time I posted was on June 20th, 2025. Since then? I've been doing a LOT behind the scenes prepping for my biggest market month of the year.

Because it’s been a hot minute, I wanted to take this opportunity to catch you up on where I’ve been, what I’ve been working on behind the scenes, & a few deeply personal shifts I’ve been navigating to get my mindset in the right space for these markets. Because if you’re a small biz owner or even just a human with a dream; you know that when life starts spiraling, you either break... or build.

Heads up—this one’s a longer read (I mean, we’re getting real, raw, & vulnerable here), but I promise it’s worth every scroll.

So, let’s talk about what’s really been going on, shall we?

First, let’s talk about what was going on inside.

Right before my birthday, a familiar, ugly voice crept in:

“You’re too much.”
“You’re a burden.”
“If it hasn’t worked by now, it never will.”

Normally? I’d spiral hard:

Seeking validation
Venting to people who couldn’t hold it
Planning a dramatic “burn it all down” moment

But this time... I chose differently.
Because healing isn’t just something I teach. It’s something I LIVE.

I sat with the fear. No judgment, just curiosity. I asked what it needed me to see. I checked the “evidence” for its truth... then I created space to let new evidence in.

I let someone safe in. They stayed. & that changed everything.

This wasn’t about “fixing myself.” It was about meeting myself.

Because of course, the second I found my footing... life came in swinging.

The struggles:

Vehicle issues. The exact moment we’re prepping for 3+ hour road trips to markets, we get hit with transportation problems. Cue the stress of trying to fit tents, signage, product, display pieces, & oh yeah, our whole family of five into one car. Think Tetris on expert mode trying to fit it all into the smaller vehicle (because the other no longer runs properly) for hours of travel.
Last year’s tough market season. 2024 already had me worried with low foot traffic & unpredictable sales. Add in this year’s economic forecast, political, & world issues? Yeah, it’s a lot. (We’ll dive more into that soon. There’s a so much happening that impacts makers, healers, & small businesses like me in real-time.)

The beliefs that surfaced:

“I’m not bringing enough to my family.”
“You don’t have enough inventory.”
“You’re not good enough.”

That last one? Oof. That’s a rooted DEEP. It’s one I’ve been untangling since childhood. And let me be clear, it doesn’t just show up in business. It shows up everywhere.

Before the Practices Took Hold

Before we dive into the healing, let’s zoom out just a bit to show you a broader picture:

While MN international arrivals grew by 8% in 2024, we’re expected to see a 13% DECREASE in 2025.

Which is super scary because like I said we already were seeing slower foot traffic in 2024!

But why the decrease? Well, it's because more than HALF of MN’s tourism comes from Canada... And the current US-Canada relationship (hello tariffs & other things) is putting a real damper on that.

Now, I do want to be honest & share the real, raw, & vulnerable human experience.

A look at the REAL Economic & Political Impact:

This all means vendors who rely on summer events to get our work in front of people, like me, are facing a tough season. This is hard & I share this because I want you to see the full picture, to open your awareness to just how much your support (to mine & ALL small business) truly impacts the lives of real humans; not big, faceless corporations.

The reality is this is NOT just “business is slow” hard. This is "is any of this even working?” kind of hard.

So, with all of that, how am I choosing to keep going and persevere?

Well, it’s been a process, and if I’m honest, it’s taken more than a few days to fully feel like myself again. As a Mindful Explorer, I know that when I’m imbalanced I tend to lean into "productive" distractions, learning things that won’t actually help me right now or tweaking booth layouts for hours instead of tending to what I actually need.

So instead of spiraling into avoidance or unhealthy coping mechanisms, I turned to the other Self-Care Languages I know support & ground me best.

Now, I know you want to know the "step by step" of what I did but I want you to remember... This is my personalized path. Your healing practices may look totally different (and they should!).

But here’s what supported me:

1. I got outside.
Earthing. Tree hugging. Breathing real air. No phones. Just nature. This isn’t just a fluffy vibe. It’s medicine for the nervous system, and for me, it’s non-negotiable. Whether it was 5 minutes or a full walk, I made it a priority.

2. I nourished my soul through food.
Not a perfectly balanced meal. A comfort meal. Something nostalgic that whispered, “You’re safe.” I cooked something meaningful, not for Instagram, but for my inner child. And it worked.

3. I created.
When I’m overwhelmed, creation becomes therapy. Sometimes it’s healing jewelry (yes, it supports me too). Other times, it’s cross-stitching, scrapbooking, or coloring. Creating puts me back in touch with my inner rhythm.

4. I reached out.
Whether it was a coffee date with my biz bestie or sending a voice note to someone in my safe circle, I asked for what I needed. Not just to vent, but to be witnessed. That mutual support? Life-changing.

5. I healed.
Energy work. Meditation. Prayer. I connected with my higher self, not to escape but to remember who I am beneath the spiral. As a healer, I still seek healing. I need it too.

And alongside all of that? Podcasts, music, little joy hits that lifted me when I was feeling lowest.

So Where Am I Now?

This spiral lasted longer. It hit harder than the one before it. It needed more care. More gentleness. More time. & that’s okay.

I still heard the old voices, but I caught them, the "speed" on how quickly I recovered doesn't matter. I leaned into having grace with myself & I had proof they weren’t telling the truth. So, because I had the tools (& the self-awareness to reach for them) I found my way back again.

I’m not “fixed.” I’m just walking it differently now:

With more honesty
With more intention
With more me

Business Built with Heart & Intention

Even in the thick of it, amidst all the uncertainty & healing on a personal level, I’ve also been pouring love into every corner of Your Intuitive Joy.

Updating our booth setup (including a copper pipe sign hanger that was yes, handmade by my partner & me!) & staining, sanding, & gluing every. Single. Letter onto our new wood signage
Designing crystal ball shaped signs for each jewelry intention (because YES to intuitive visual storytelling) & collaborating with my neighbor at Lizabell Studio to bring them to life (its giving cozy mystical forest feels!)
Updating product tags & display pieces which also includes adjusting pricing, not because I’m devaluing my work, but because I’m ready to move some pieces into the world where they belong

Everything is a labor of love. Literally. These touches may seem small, but they’re crafted with deep care, so that when you step into my space (online or at an event), you feel the magic & intention that lives behind it all.

AKA Come Say Hi!

Event month has started. Two Harbors is just a week away. And while yes, a tiny part of me still worries about sales, the rest of me is honored.

Honored to share these tools. Honored to help you find the piece that holds your intention. Honored to witness your healing journey.

Here’s where to find me this July:

🌿 Two Harbors Heritage Days

📍 July 11–13 | 10am–6pm (Fri/Sat), 10am–2pm (Sun)
✨ Mention this blog post & get 25% off your purchase!
💻 Can't make it to Two Harbors? Use code TWOHARB for 15% off $40+ orders.
🚚 This code is active now (July 5th, 2025) through July 13th, 2025 & all orders over $75 receive FREE Shipping!

🌾 Mitchell, SD Arts in the Park

📍 July 26–27 | 9am–7pm (Sat), 10am–5pm (Sun)
🎨 Junior Makers, Corn Palace vibes, & healing jewelry (of course)
🗓️ Full event details here: Upcoming Events

💌 Seeing this after the events passed? Click HERE to sign up for our emails & receive a "Weekly Wellspring" of healing/energy insights & of course biz updates.

One Last Thing…

If you’re navigating your own spiral, I hope this blog reminded you:

You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not alone.

If you want to chat, ask about mentorship, or just want someone to hold space, my inbox is open. Instagram is the best place to connect daily, but if you prefer non-Meta spaces, Click HERE for the Slack link or simply email me at tracy@yourintuitivejoy.com

No pressure. Just presence.

With love, grit, & a little bit of spice,

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