Becoming aware of one’s own well-being is one of the most complex tasks for those who undertake it in Latin America. But what do we call well-being? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health in 2021 as “a state of well-being in which people recognize their abilities, manage daily stresses, work productively and contribute to their community.” This state of well-being transcends the simple absence of mental illness; It involves the ability to express emotions, interact with other people and enjoy life.
Well-being, then, It is feeling good about yourself and others, facing daily challenges, valuing our human nature and accepting ourselves as we are.. It includes building relationships based on respect, tolerance and acceptance of differences, which leads to harmonious coexistence. It is living fully, in connection with our emotional being.
There are various dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, psychological, social and ecological. Other focuses include healthy lifestyles, self-care, purpose and meaning in life, financial security, spirituality and religiosity, creativity, social connectedness, as well as stress management and resilience.
But, What do we know about the specific situation of these agents of change in the region? A study carried out this year for The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá indicates that 28% of Ibero-American social entrepreneurs show severe symptoms of psychological discomfortbeing more critical among women (36%) than men (20%).
Furthermore, another conclusion drawn from the document is that a third have low levels of subjective well-being (WHO5 indicator) being uncommon to feel happy and in a good mood, calm and relaxed, active and energetic, well and rested. And for the rest, life satisfaction is medium to low; something that contrasts with their satisfaction with their endeavors (89%). This gap tells us that, Entrepreneurs often prioritize their professional achievements at the expense of their personal well-being..
The emotional impact is also evident for the majority of change agents in Latin America. 1 in 4 entrepreneurs reports feeling severely or moderately depressed18% suffer from severe anxiety and a third of those interviewed present symptoms of severe stress.
In particular, the interviewees cite exaggerated reactions to certain situations, extreme worry or panic, feelings of general restlessness, difficulty relaxing or even breathing; They say they feel sad or depressed, intolerant, discouraged, afraid for no reason and physical sensations such as palpitations, dry mouth and difficulty breathing. This leads us to reflect that many entrepreneurs face complex social situations, while coping with these symptoms.
The figures of burnout They are alarming among high-impact entrepreneurs (EAI). A study carried out by the Social Innovation Laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank (BIDLab) and The Wellbeing Project shows how 6 out of 10 EAI present symptoms of burnout moderate and 20% have clear symptoms of severe burnout. This coincides with the records obtained in the interviews with social entrepreneurs.
The financial pressure, the speed required to scale, the difficulty in achieving impacts on the most vulnerable populations, not reaching the planned goals for the beneficiaries or impacting the ecosystem, in addition to the political and economic situation of the context where they work, imply great pressures. psychosomatic and emotional that generate high levels of stress and physical health problems.
Therefore, it is not surprising that 16% of these social entrepreneurs rate their physical health as poor. In this framework, at Ashoka we have carried out a Wellness Atlaswhere we interviewed different Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs. Nearly 50% of those interviewed indicated that they hardly carry out any practices to improve their situation.. And among those who do carry out activities to support their well-being, the most mentioned are those related to their social connectivity: meetings with their family or friends are the most important to them.
There are numbers of entrepreneurs who rely on food care and, to a lesser extent, those who carry out physical activities and outdoor activities. We also know that For most, it is difficult to sustain these activities over time, establish certain routines, work on psychological aspects or give priority to things other than their work..
Some challenges to address:
1. Become aware of your own well-being. The process begins by being present for oneself, which gives rise to reflection and acting accordingly. But also being present here and now, with sensations, emotions, with complexities and everything that concerns psychic life.
2. Incorporate self-care. This includes multiple possibilities: changes in lifestyle and daily care practices; address physical, mental and emotional health; spend time reflecting on the purpose and meaning of life; learn to manage stress and develop resilience; give a place to connection with others, curiosity, creativity, spirituality or religiosity, without neglecting financial security.
3. Talk about these topics with peers It has turned out to open a channel of harmony and self-knowledge with oneself and with others. The experience of Beyond Wellbeing of Ashoka has shown the strength of addressing the well-being of change agents and its impact on the achievement of their innovations.
The well-being and mental health challenges for entrepreneurs are as broad as the achievements of their business. Making oneself a well-being challenge involves expanding the horizons of consciousness, of the here and now.and work every day to achieve it.
If you are a social entrepreneur and this information resonates with you, download our our new Wellness Atlas! Because well-being is the seed of social entrepreneurship.
***Mireya Vargas is an Ashoka Social Entrepreneur.
