When Life Gets In the Way

Posted in Blog, Impact Factor | 41 Comments

A few weeks have passed since I’ve posted. In those few weeks my life has been in a state of mild to moderate upheaval (yes, those are scientifically measured qualifiers).

During that time I’ve also been beating myself up for my lack of writing on the blog and for not being present on the social media fronts I love so much (Twitter and Google+ to be exact).

And the more I beat myself up, the less motivated I’ve been to do anything about it.

This morning I woke up and decided to give myself permission to never write another blog post for this site again.

You know what happened then? I walked straight to my computer and began writing this to you. Funny how that works.

See, there are always going to be times when life will get in the way. There are times when we will not have the creative space to produce what we’d like. There are times when all we’ll want to do is crawl into a corner and sleep until we can’t sleep anymore.

But if we do not treat ourselves with compassion during these times, if we don’t give ourselves permission to step back and take a break, a seemingly temporary interruption can quickly turn into giving up on ourselves completely.

So here’s what I have to say to myself…and to you:

No matter what life is giving you right now, don’t give up.

No matter what hardships or challenges you are facing, don’t give up.

No matter how much you feel like it, don’t give up.

No matter how many people tell you that you can’t do it, don’t give up.

Never, ever give up on yourself.

In the end you’re all you got, baby. And I love you.

Anonymous

Welcome back! I can relate

Love you! –Lori

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thanks gorgeous! Love you too xoxoxo

http://www.openroadscoaching.com Tina Robbins

This is awesome! I have had a litany of crazy drama happen in my family over the last few weeks and its been really hard to keep connected and moving forward with my goals. This post feels really comforting and supportive to me right now.

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

I hope the drama quiets down for you soon, Tina. My best advice? Take the time and space you need to protect your sanity and treat yourself with the same compassion as you would others in the same situation. And DON’T GIVE UP! We need you xoxoxo

http://www.deniseoberry.com deniseoberry

Such a great reminder that we all need at one time or another. Very timely for me too. Thank you.

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thank you Denise!

http://www.devacoaching.com Sandi Amorim

I’m on day 9 of a 10 day family visit (parents, sis, her guy and their 3 kids) and I’m on the verge of hysteria! Well, not quite, but there WAS an awful lot of family drama to contend with!

Like keeps lifeing, there are always unexpected circumstances and giving up is not an option. Just breathe. Or as Dori (from Finding Nemo) said, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

ahhhhh….now Dori will be in my head all day. I do love that scene though and hear her song often.

WTG on surviving that visit, sister! You’re a better woman than I

http://www.devacoaching.com Sandi Amorim

Well, I did it. The family just left this morning and I now need a vacation! It’s all a learning op, as once again I’m reminded that it doesn’t work to put my self care on hold while I care for others. It. Doesn’t. Work. EVER!

Oh how the Universe loves to keep giving me this lesson!

http://AngelNSullivan.com Angel Sullivan

Oh, I needed this today… Both today & yesterday I’ve done some writing and then based on my writing have taken time to nap, paint, and read the rest of a great book (all during my ‘work’ time… which is so limited right now). I was beating up on myself for taking these breaks rather than working (have a site re-design in the works for myself, have a site to build for a great business, have new copy to write, a new logo to design, several products that I need to put together) and yet I’m finally beginning to feel like the colors coming back after taking these two days…. Tomorrow is also out as I get to meet Skaja for lunch & then get the rest of my hair chopped (chopped!) off. SO, this was really perfect timing for me to read this…. It’ll all be ok after all…. Glad you’re back sweets

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Ooh I can’t wait to see the new do…AND the new site!!

http://www.DanaReeves.com Dana Reeves

Wow Jenny, talk about perfect timing. I’m bouncing between Atlanta and Montgomery, where I’m helping care for and make decisions about my terminally ill Mom (metastasized lung cancer). At the same time I’m getting my 15 year old ready for high school, trying to be a good wife/partner, following a strict health/nutrition program, and oh yeah, running my business. Exhausted? Hell yes. Feeling sorry for myself? Yep, guilty. Wanting to crawl under the covers for a few days (weeks) and just disappear? Abso-freaking-lutely. And I was well on my way to doing just that when I checked email on my iPhone from bed (dammit!) and there was the one from you with the link to this post. And, hell’s bells, now I guess I’ll go start some laundry and turn my computer on for the first time today. After I take a walk with my family.

Thank you for saving me from myself tonight…

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Way to go, Dana!! While I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now, your spirit is an inspiration. Thank YOU for not giving up, and remember you’re not alone.

http://twitter.com/Desisister_Jen Jen

I actually love the drama…life is not smooth…and the downs always come just before the ups )) loved the post…

http://twitter.com/crunchybetty Crunchy Betty

It’s funny that you say this, because I was JUST thinking an hour ago that my life is relatively drama-free 90% of the time, and then three or so times a year, life just goes, “Hey. You haven’t had any drama lately. HERE’S A WHOLE BUNCH AT ONCE!” Here’s to drama in moderation!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Amen!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thank you, Jen. And I’m totally not surprised by your revelation What a great way to think of it all!

http://twitter.com/visualsspeak visualsspeak

You are so not alone! Lovely to see you peeking back out……

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thanks Christine!

http://customerlove.me LaVonne Ellis

Yay, Jenny! I don’t have any drama going on but I’ve been so tired I could barely drag myself out of bed, so I gave myself a sabbatical to sleep as much as I want, read and generally ‘veg’. Just what I needed.

Welcome back, sweetness.

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

I’m glad to hear you’re taking care of you, too! Thanks so much LaVonne.

http://twitter.com/crunchybetty Crunchy Betty

I just wanted to say thank you. This came at the exact right time – clearly for you, and for me. Please give yourself permission not to write more often.

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

That makes me very happy, Leslie. And the next time I say f-all to writing I’ll think of you and smile.

http://andydolph.com Andy Dolph

wow.

“This morning I woke up and decided to give myself permission to never write another blog post for this site again.You know what happened then? I walked straight to my computer and began writing this to you. Funny how that works.”
it really hit home for me.

Giving myself permission to not do things that I feel guilty I don’t *want* to do is powerful stuff.

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thanks Andy! It was an eye-opening reminder for me, no doubt.

http://www.anencouragingbird.com BirdyD – Roving Robin Reporter

Thank you for the post!
Another one for whom it came at just-the-right-time.

Hope things are going better for you now!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

With people like you in my life, things can never be too bad Birdy.

http://twitter.com/SilverMagpies Silver Magpies

Sorry double post
http://twitter.com/SilverMagpies Silver Magpies

Hang in there Jenny.

This is one of the benefits of solopreneurship – you decide. And here’s a bright side no need to fill out masses of forms in triplicate for the HR dept before you need time off to deal with life!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

LOL great point, Nan. I’ve been there filling out those triplicate forms…this beats it by a f’n mile

Kathy

Thank you!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Thank you, Kathy

http://www.juicylife.ca AnneMelnyk

Thanks Jenny!

It’s been a tough year full of challenging circumstances, and having just returned from a vacation that was less than ideal in terms of rejuvenating power, I’ve been overwhelmed with stepping back into the stream of work and business building. Your post was the ideal thing to come back to.I’m giving myself permission to give up, in the hopes that by being compassionate with myself and taking a real break, I’ll regain my missing mojo!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

That warms my cockles (even though I don’t know wtf cockles are). Thank you Anne, and I’m sending you tons of mojo-rejuvenating vibes.

http://squarepegpeople.typepad.com/ Square-Peg Karen

Jenny, sending you virtual hugs and an effing ton of good vibes with hopes for a MUCH smoother ride real soon! – oh, and also sending 14 virtual baskets full of gratitude!

I could NOT have read this at a better time – I was on the precipice of a cliff called Giving UP. And now I won’t give up — you wrote the perfect reminder for all of us. Thank you!

http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

Don’t you dare give up, sister. I’ll come gitcha

http://twitter.com/JenPriceDavis Jen Davis

Love, love, love! This is 100% true and you are so good at getting to the heart of what’s true. Love you too Jenny!
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http://lindaeaves.com Linda Eaves

My sistah friend… Amen. Love up on ourselves…We gotta. Jenny is the precious treasure behind Up Your Impact Factor. Thank you for modeling this self care for us. Talk soon.
http://twitter.com/bonesart13 andrew bones

This makes alot of since, I shall follow your teaching cousion Jenny