21/09/2022
Hello, I'm Grace, a part time doula. That's right - I don't doula full time. Is that surprising to you?
I know many doulas and birthworkers who blend their self employment with salaried work. I know many people who feel that that reflects a failure of some sort.
I felt exactly like that too. I work as a salaried employee as well as running my doula business and the Postnatal Doula Academy. Why do I do that?
I am the primary earner in my family and need the stability of an employed income.
This has been the case since I started my doula career, and I'm not sure if it'll ever change. I'm absolutely sure that it has no reflection on my success or self worth as a doula.
It took me a while to shrug off those feelings of self doubt and that I was 'failing' because I wasn't dedicated to doulaing full time.
I stopped comparing myself to those who were making this their primary income - they may have different resources to me, family set up etc. I started celebrating their success instead.
I practiced gratitude for the ability to be both salaried and in a job I enjoy as well as being self employed and running a business.
Anyway, I'm waffling now but I hope you get my point.
I'm really interested to know if you also struggle with this. If you think that being employed is 'shameful' in some way. Let me know in the comments below!
