The Business of Healing

In Black business, the hustle isn’t just culture, it’s survival. Our drive to achieve stability, security, and legacy often comes from generations of being left out of systems designed to support others. We grind because we must. Yet the constant push to do more, faster, and better can take a deep toll on both our minds and bodies.

My work is informed by Polyvagal Theory, which explores the deep connection between body and mind, not only in the present but across generations. Our vagus nerve, a living bridge from brain to heart to gut, carries echoes of our ancestors and reminds us that even our hustle is embodied. The vagus nerve is calmed, strengthened, and healed in the presence of love, safety, and belonging.

The reality is, hustling remains both necessary and beneficial. We carry the tension of striving for progress while managing the weight of generational and systemic pressure. To thrive, we must learn to balance both health and hustle and to protect the very energy that fuels our success.

Here are a few ways to encourage that balance:

Set and protect time that’s just for you. The brain thrives on ritual. If you only prioritize work, it learns to focus on work even when you’re trying to rest. Rest is not weakness; it’s recovery. Schedule downtime the same way you schedule meetings. Step away from your phone, eat lunch without multitasking, and end your day with a small ritual: a walk, journaling, or silence.

Adopt an Abundance Perspective. Your words shape your body’s response. Replace “I have to” with “I get to” — shifting from pressure to possibility calms the nervous system and nurtures freedom.

Strengthen your support network. Every entrepreneur needs a space to be fully human and not just the boss. Build relationships that allow vulnerability and feedback.

Network with authenticity. Our bodies quietly communicate intention, often before we speak. When we network from genuine curiosity and care, not production, we foster trust, and the benefits often follow naturally.

Breathe Intentionally. Pause and breathe deeply. In our goal-oriented hustle, shallow breaths mimic the body’s stress response. Slow, steady breathing tells your system you are safe, grounded, and present.

Be Present. The brain excels at one thing at a time. “Multitasking” is really rapid switch-tasking. Choose focus, slow down, and give each moment your full presence.

Normalize conversations about mental health. Strong leaders talk openly about the pressures of entrepreneurship. By sharing our challenges, we dismantle stigma. Encourage your teams, colleagues, and peers to take mental health days and seek support – not just in crisis, but for ongoing care.

Establishing health is both personal and collective. As we work to build wealth and opportunity, we must also cultivate wellness. When we honor rest as much as ambition, we create businesses and communities that are rooted not just in survival, but in thriving.

Paired with introspection, we reconnect with our ancestors, “tearing the veil” through intentional action and surrounding ourselves with people whose presence helps us heal (Coogler, 2025). As we do this, a familiar pattern re-emerges, one reflected in both data and lived experience: as we heal, we flourish. And as Black professionals, research and our stories show that when we flourish, we flourish stronger (Williams, 2018).

Coogler, R. (Director). (2025). Sinners [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures.

Williams D. R. (2018). Stress and the Mental Health of Populations of Color: Advancing Our Understanding of Race-related Stressors. Journal of health and social behavior, 59(4), 466–485. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146518814251

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Written by: Cedric Wilson, LPC

Founder of Seeking Wellness Counseling Services

Email: info@seekingwellnesscs.com | Phone: 540-339-7674

To learn more visit https://www.seekingwellnesscs.com/.