A Chronic Entrepreneur: Grace Quantock
Grace Quantock is a multi-talented woman who has built her life on her core values: compassion, ethical living and the wild world of possibility. She is the founder of Trailblazing Wellness Coaching and works as a wellness coach, motivational speaker (watch her TEDx talk here and below), writer and teacher. She also helps others create bespoke ethical gifts through her social enterprise, Healing Boxes.
Combining study and qualifications with life experience, Grace helps others learn how to live well in the face of crisis and change, and how to build a successful business while living with a chronic illness. We’re so excited to have Grace share her story with us about how she arrived at where she is today and what her journey has involved.
What’s your Chronic?
I am living with multiple autoimmune diagnoses.
Where were you when you were diagnosed?
I was in the doctor’s office.
What makes you an Entrepreneur?
I became an entrepreneur because what I needed, and what I could see was so needed in the world, didn’t exist yet. So I created it. In the process of doing that, I founded two international companies, which I suppose qualifies me as an entrepreneur.
What came first, the chronic or the entrepreneurism?
The chronic.
How did this path come to you?
After multiple autoimmune diagnoses and then a cancer scare, I decided it was time to follow my dreams and start my Healing Boxes business, as well as officially set up as a wellness coach and motivational speaker.
What do you wish you’d known before?
Your doctor isn’t in charge. You are.
It won’t always be like this.
Holding out for a cure isn’t your only option.
I’ve written further on them all, here and here.
Did you go through any sort of 12-stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride – how did the process manifest itself – did you immediately reassess your life?
I did, and I teach about handling this in depth in my program on living well with chronic illness, The Phoenix Fire Academy.
We look at the emotions that naturally arise when given a chronic diagnosis. Some of these emotions people recognise as being part of a grieving process. This is because, sometimes, we do actually go through this. We grieve the loss of our old lives, the person we were and the opportunities we had. This is nothing to be ashamed of. However, there is a popular idea that people tend to go through the stages of grief in a certain order, or indeed that they will go through all the stages. This isn’t actually the case. People could feel one or even all of these emotions. They could get stuck on one or jump back and forth between them, I certainly did.
Did you seek out or join organisations representing your chronic for support or did you find comfort and answers elsewhere – what would you recommend in hindsight?
I did and sadly not all support groups are created equal. Oh, how I wish I’d figured this out years ago. For some reason (likely my steadfast and irrational optimism), I imagined support groups filled with reasonable, lovely people; kind, compassionate, and offering unconditional love and solidarity. Surprise! I found in-fighting, bullying, politics, prejudice and competition.
All groups have their own personalities; be mindful that some may be facilitated by people whose ideals do not mesh with yours. Poorly moderated groups can be rife with divisiveness and friction.
In support groups for people with ‘invisible disabilities’ (fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalopathy, migraines, endometriosis and the like), I was often disappointed by the focus on ‘proving’ the devastation these illnesses wrought, and combating negative public perceptions of them. I felt excluded and criticised, even judged for ‘hurting the cause’ by striving – and succeeding – to live well with my illness. These groups didn’t work for me. And not all groups will be your cup of tea either. That’s ok. Don’t give up! Somewhere, there’s a support system that is right for the unique and phenomenal you. That’s why I founded the Trailblazing Wellness Facebook Cafe.
What would you say to your younger self?
I love you. You are resilient, tenacious and stronger than you know. I know it hurts, I know it feels like it will always hurt. I am so sorry it’s so hard for you right now my dear. It is really, really hard. This being human is not easy and that sucks.
I don’t know why this has happened to you, I can find no meaning in such senseless pain. I believe you are a good person to whom terrible things have happened.
I am so sorry you are hurting like this.
I would never have wished this for you.
When you hurt this much, when you are shattered and wounded to this extent, you lose a certain kind of innocence, it’s an odd initiation, unwanted, uninvited but present nonetheless.
Afterwards I can’t pretend you will be the same person. Something changes after surviving pain like this, but I can tell you there are good people on the other side waiting for you.
Many people will never experience anything like this, but you are and although it is unfair and unasked for it is happening and let me tell you, you are doing so wonderfully.
You are surviving something life-changing, life-threatening which many never could. I know that survival seems like a mixed blessing right now.
But you know, so many people through history have been where you have been, you are entering a special sisterhood, we may be scarred but we are legion.
Keep going, we are here on the other side with open arms.
We are walking by you in the journey, and you can follow in the footsteps of the women who have trod this darkest road before and found the way through.
How have you changed, if at all in your relationships, decisions, what you value?
My core values haven’t changed but how I approach them has. How I manage life challenges has been refined but I still hold the same core beliefs of the power of compassion, ethical choices and possibility.
What advice do you have for others?
I don’t have any advice, but I share my thoughts, my findings and my journey on my website.
I don’t think it’s up to me to give advice or tell anyone what to do, rather I hope to support them to find out what’s best for themselves, their body and their situation.
What is your life philosophy and has this changed?
I’m afraid I don’t think I can sum up my life philosophy in a sentence. But I talk about what I believe passionately, and that comes pretty close.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you?
A pain flare or difficult symptoms arising.
What do you do on a ‘bad day’?
Take care of my body and myself using my self-care systems and Healing Blueprint, which I built in the Phoenix Fire Academy. It has a section on what to do on a bad day to give me the optimum healing environment. It’s easily accessible so I can grab it and run down the list. I don’t have to think or wonder what’s best to do as I’ve already outlined the options, it’s accessible and a wonderful tool to use.
How do you deal with stress?
Through journalling, psychotherapy and counselling, mindful movement, prayer and using my Healing Box.
Most importantly I listen to the stress as a message from my body and psyche and do my best to hear that message, respond appropriately and make any changes needed.
Who are your back up dancers?
I don’t have any back up dancers as I’m not the star of the show. We’re all in this together…I believe in the quote by Ram Dass, ‘we’re all just walking each other home.’
However, my joy and support include my beloved family, my rescued animals, my friends and the Trailblazing Wellness community.
Best bits of being A Chronic Entrepreneur?
Getting to connect with people worldwide and support them on their healing journeys.
Worst bits of being A Chronic Entrepreneur?
I don’t think there are any worst bits for me. There are challenges, but they come with the territory not only of being chronically ill but also of being an entrepreneur. I work on developing and building a resilient life and business to be able to handle them as well as possible.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
I love plans, lists, systems and clear space.
Dream weekend plans and have these changed?
I’ve been ill for 13 years, so my dream weekend plans have changed many times, as they would in any 13-year stretch. Right now, my dream weekend is yoga in the mornings, time with my husband, riding, a long afternoon nap, and gentle date night.
Ultimate dinner party guests?
I’d love to have dinner with Connie Panzarino, Marion Woodman and Maya Angelou.
What next?
I’m sharing the news about my new ebook and audiobook Beyond the Boundaries: Finding Freedom and Fulfilment Within Four Walls. Self-Care Edition, a guide to living a meaningful life while house-bound or bed-bound.
I’m also working on running The Phoenix Fire Academy again and the Blazing Hearts Flight School: Pursuits and Passon for People Living with Limits (my program on running a successful business while chronically ill).
I’m studying for my next harp exam, practising dressage tests with RDA and prepping for my dissertation.
You can find me
Website – http://gracequantock.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/gracequantocktrailblazingwellness
Twitter – @Grace_Quantock
Instagram- @healingboxes
Let us know what you think below and share your story with us on Instagram tagging @achronicentrepreneur and using the hashtag #achronicentrepreneur.
