Running your own business as a freelance language teacher is deeply rewarding — but let’s be honest, it’s also a rollercoaster.
There are days when you land a new client, get lovely feedback, or finally finish that website you’ve been putting off. And then there are days when a student cancels, your carefully written social media post gets two likes, or you spend hours fiddling with tech that just won’t work.
How you handle the emotional ups and downs can make a huge difference, not only to your wellbeing but also to the long-term sustainability of your business. The challenge is finding balance – without slipping into toxic positivity on one side or toxic negativity on the other.
Toxic positivity
We all know negative emotions don’t feel good. But they’re there for a reason. They tell us something needs our attention — maybe to rest, rethink, or change our approach.
Toxic positivity shows up when we try to skip past those feelings and insist we’re fine. It might look like:
- convincing yourself you’re “just not trying hard enough” when you feel exhausted
- plastering on a smile in a coaching call or lesson when you actually need a break
- telling yourself you must always stay upbeat online, because “no one wants to follow someone who’s struggling”
And it can show up in how we treat others, too. Phrases like “cheer up, other teachers have it worse” or “just be positive, clients will come” might sound supportive, but they actually shut down honest conversation.
As one counsellor I knew memorably put it, this is like pouring pink icing on top of sh*t. The feelings don’t go away , they just leak out later, often at the worst possible time.
Toxic negativity
On the other hand, constantly expecting the worst isn’t healthy either. Toxic negativity is more than a bad week or even a rough few months, it’s when your default setting becomes:
- “No one will ever pay my rates”
- “Marketing just doesn’t work for me”
- “Other teachers get lucky, I never do”
This mindset can creep in without us noticing. The danger is that it shapes our actions (or inactions). If you’re convinced launches always fail, you might avoid putting offers out at all. If you believe you’ll never attract the right students, you may settle for underpaid platforms instead of building your own client base.
It’s not just exhausting for you, it can also make others hesitant to collaborate or refer clients if the energy always feels heavy.
Finding the middle ground
So what’s the alternative?
- Acknowledge what’s real. You will face setbacks — a client leaves, a workshop flops, or someone criticises your work publicly. Pretending it doesn’t hurt won’t help. Naming your feelings and giving yourself time to recover is healthy.
- Listen without attaching. Your emotions are signals, not definitions. “This feels hard right now” is very different from “I’m not cut out for this.” One is temporary; the other becomes a story you live by.
- Choose supportive action. After listening, ask: What’s the smallest, kindest step I can take? Maybe it’s sending one email, posting once instead of three times, or simply taking the afternoon off. Small, intentional steps add up.
When we stay with the middle ground, we avoid both extremes. We don’t deny our emotions, but we also don’t let them define our entire business journey.
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Ready for more balance and support in your business?
Running a freelance language teaching business isn’t just about strategy — it’s about having people around you who get it. When you’re celebrating a win, you want others who understand why it matters. When things feel tough, you need a safe space to be honest, without pressure to “just stay positive” or spiral into “it’ll never work.”
That’s exactly what we do inside Designed to Flourish, my six-month coaching programme for freelance language professionals. Alongside clear business strategy, you’ll have ongoing peer support, group calls, and a community that helps you navigate the ups and downs without getting stuck at either extreme.
If you’d like to grow your business with more clarity, more confidence, and a lot less isolation, you can find out more about Designed to Flourish here.