The Resilient Founder

25Prescription 5 – A Promise to Yourself

Visora González Frontera, a founder based in San Francisco, has suffered from depression, and in managing the highs and lows has struck upon a gentle way of expressing kindness to her own self.

By writing a wonderful letter to her own self.

Talking to your alter ego, a reflection in the pond, can feel strange, even silly. While Narcissus was lost in an admirable gaze of his own beauty, Visora stares at her own reflection and gently brushes away the furrows on that strained brow, caresses the face like a loving mother would. In bringing out such self-compassion, Visora reminds us that there are more ways than one to become self-reliant in our way to recovery.

Visora Frontera shares, “I have often experienced depression, ironically, after a success. When my company received a large innovation grant, I felt ‘down’ for two solid weeks after hearing the news. I felt shy about discussing my negative feelings with friends because I wanted my ‘internal landscape’ to reflect the ‘external’ positive milestone for the company. After reading another founder's account of an enormously successful liquidity event triggering depression, I chose to write. Depressive episodes do not track with a company's balance sheet or an individual's apparent health or well roundedness. Depressive episodes simply happen. I wrote a ‘letter to myself’ designed to provide believable encouragement (to myself) during ‘down’ periods. Because depressive feelings generally ...