Have you come across the “startup curve” and its infamous section called the trough of sorrow? It’s a stage many founders hit: exciting beginnings give way to unexpected obstacles. Reality arrives—things get bumpy, plans derail, overwhelm builds, stress accumulates, and the original zeal can feel drained. This is where many people quit. It’s the real test: sorrow mixed with high spirits.
I’m in the trough of sorrow right now.
My calendar is packed with big ideas and shiny goals, yet the daily grind feels like wading through molasses.
This is the moment where many let the dream fade. I’m not most people.
I’m sharing this because I want to be honest about what I’m experiencing. On social media and YouTube I often show the bright side, but behind the scenes the path is uneven and my vision sometimes fuzzy.
Sweet Potato Soul began as a passion project and hobby blog when I was a newly graduated actress looking for a creative outlet in food. Over time my love for food eclipsed my interest in acting, and I launched a vegan personal chef service. For more than three years I cooked for and taught people in New York how to prepare delicious vegan meals. It was deeply rewarding, but I always dreamed of growing Sweet Potato Soul into something bigger. The potential for the brand felt limitless.
The destination
One day I decided to pursue that dream fully: to make Sweet Potato Soul a destination for inspiring vegan living, mouthwatering recipes, fitness, and high-quality video content.
I thought stepping away from the personal chef service would free up time to build the brand. My calendars filled with blog post concepts, video ideas, interview guests for my show and podcast, fitness collaborations, and ambitious plans to expand. Yet despite the apparent time to focus, progress has been slower than I expected—time feels like an enemy and there never seems to be enough of it.
Still, there’s an upside. Even while navigating the trough of sorrow, my spirits remain uplifted. Technical setbacks with videos, missed deadlines, and slipping fitness routines have been discouraging, but I’m confident this low point will pass. The approach that helps me most is simple: keep moving forward and do my best each day.
I’ve been hard on myself for not blogging as often as I’d like. I’m working to find a realistic schedule I can actually maintain (planning doesn’t come naturally to me). Whenever something goes wrong I tell myself, “If only I could explain my failings.” Consider this my explanation to you and to myself—an honest update and a reminder that it’s okay to fail sometimes on the bumpy road to sustainability and the Sweet Potato Soul I imagine.
Can you give yourself a bit of grace for something you’re disappointed about today? It’s natural to feel upset or frustrated, but don’t let those feelings grow larger than they should. Keep taking small steps, offer yourself compassion, and allow room to recover and improve. I’ll be doing the same.