Earth Lab Origins #5: Facing My Fears, Finding My Flow

Becoming a small business owner and a maker wasn’t just about learning how to create or sell products. It was about facing myself. Confronting my fears.

One of the biggest was the fear of being seen. Of standing in my truth and letting it shine. Of owning my gifts.

When I moved to Australia, I learned how to dim my light to survive. I shrank myself to stay safe, stayed in toxic situations without defending my worth, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t know how to do otherwise. There was no safety net. No one to catch me if I fell.

So I adapted. I made myself small. I stayed quiet. I became easy to digest, easy to overlook. Survival meant not taking up space.

But deep inside, I yearned for something more. I didn’t want to just survive. I wanted to live. I craved a life that was true to me. A life where I could fully embody my talents and share them unapologetically. A life where I could stand in my light, speak my truth, and build something grounded in freedom and authenticity.

That meant making brave choices, even when I was afraid. Even when I had no external support. Even when it felt like walking a tightrope with no one beneath to catch me.

I had to learn how to find that support within me. To see my own light. To trust it. To follow the flow. And slowly, I did.

The Beginning of a New Path

It started small, a quiet search for truth. A way out of the life I no longer wanted. A desire to meet my real self, to live from my most honest expression.

That is how Earth Lab began.

From day one, it challenged me. It didn’t allow me to hide. It demanded visibility, standing behind a market stall, looking strangers in the eye, and saying, “I made this.”

It forced me to confront my fears, not with anger, but with love. It asked me to stop leaning on systems, people, or external validation and start building a business rooted in my own truth. One that reflects and honours who I am. And somehow, I have.

Not perfectly. Not without fear. But fully. With heart. And I am still learning. Still showing up. Still carving out the life I want.

But now, I know what I stand on. I stand on my truth. I stand in my light. And that changes everything.

The Flow That Followed

It has been four years. I made it through COVID. I am still here as the economy slows. And slowly, steadily, in my own rhythm, I have learned the lessons. I have grown. I have transformed.

And I have found what I was looking for - my authentic expression.

Once I discovered that creative flow, I could not, and did not want to, stop. I became immersed in the making, the blending, the experimenting. My product range grew because I could not help myself. I felt alive in the process.

What began with deodorants and body butters expanded to creams, scrubs, bundles. Fresh, simple skincare made with care and intention. Products that are soft, pure, and real. Made for real people.

A New Leap Forward

Now, I am taking another big step: learning how to share Earth Lab with a wider audience - marketing, storytelling, connection. It is another form of creation. Another stretch. Another leap of faith. But in my heart, I know that Earth Lab is worth sharing.

Every product I make is pure, nourishing, full of fresh goodness and crafted with love. Always! And it deserves to be seen.
Just like I do.

With all my love,

Anya

xx