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When I first encountered Byron Katie’s profound teaching about “three types of business,” it felt like a deep, personal awakening. Katie, one of my most cherished spiritual teachers, shared this simple yet transformative idea that has since become a cornerstone of my own life and work as a facilitator. It is a guiding principle that helps untangle the conflicts we face daily, revealing a path back to clarity, peace, and empowerment.
Katie teaches that there are only three types of business in life: mine, yours, and God’s. Understanding this can free us from stress and worry while helping us stay anchored in our truth. In her words:
“If you stay in your own business long enough, you’ll discover you don’t have a business of your own. Everything lives through you.”
Let’s delve into what this means, how these businesses show up in your life, and how you can
come back to your business—the only place where your true power resides.
My Business
This is everything within your control: your thoughts, feelings, actions, and choices. It’s
the domain where you have agency and where meaningful change begins.
Stress, worry, and conflict arise when we stray from our own business. Perhaps you’re
preoccupied with someone else’s decisions, trying to control their choices. Or maybe you’re
worrying about an outcome beyond your control.
When you focus on what isn’t yours, you lose connection with yourself—and with it, your sense of peace and purpose.
Your business is the space where you can make meaningful decisions, take action, and nurture your well-being. It’s not selfish to focus on your business—quite the opposite. By taking responsibility for your life, you become a more present and generous force for others.
You’re preparing for an important presentation. Instead of worrying about whether your audience will like it (their business), you focus on your preparation and confidence (your business).
Even if worries creep in—Will my boss approve? What will my colleagues think?—you can pause, reflect, and ask yourself: Whose business am I in right now? Then, gently redirect your focus to what’s within your control.
Trying to manage someone else’s business is exhausting, especially for women who are often
conditioned to carry the emotional weight of others.
You’re concerned about a loved one’s life choices. While it’s natural to care, their decisions are
their business. You can offer support, but ultimately, their journey is not yours to control.
Letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring—it means respecting their autonomy and freeing yourself from the burden of their outcomes.
God’s business is everything beyond human control: the weather, natural events, the timing of
opportunities, or the unpredictability of life itself.
You’re anxious about moving to a new city. While you can plan and prepare (your business), the ultimate outcome is in the hands of the universe (God’s business).
Trusting God’s business allows you to release fear and embrace faith. When we surrender to life’s flow, we often find ourselves led to places far better than we could have imagined.
Awareness is the first step toward change. Here’s how to tell if you’re outside your business:
You feel drained or overwhelmed by someone else’s reactions or choices.
You’re replaying scenarios in your mind, trying to control outcomes.
You’re preoccupied with fears about the future or things beyond your influence.
When you feel tension, pause and ask yourself: Whose business am I in?
Coming back to your business is a compassionate practice. Here’s how to begin:
1. Pause and Reflect:
Ask: Is this my business, someone else’s, or God’s?
2. Refocus Your Energy:
3. Practice Gratitude and Compassion:
Be kind to yourself as you navigate this process.
Women often feel the pull to manage everyone’s needs while neglecting their own. This leads to
blurred boundaries and inner conflict.
Start your day with this intention: I commit to staying in my own business today.
When overwhelmed, pause and ask: Whose business am I in?
As a facilitator, I’ve had the privilege of guiding many women through this journey. I’ve seen how staying in their own business can bring clarity to their choices, peace to their relationships, and confidence in navigating life’s challenges.
I’ve experienced this transformation myself. Byron Katie’s teachings remind me daily that my greatest strength lies in focusing on what’s mine and releasing what isn’t.
This year, I invite you to explore this practice. Notice where your energy is going. If you find yourself entangled in someone else’s business or worrying about the uncontrollable, take a breath. Come back to yourself.
Because your business is where your power lies. It’s where your peace begins. It’s where you’ll discover the life you’ve always dreamed of living.
Let’s make this journey together.
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