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May felt like walking through a dense morning fog, soft and quiet, but also heavy and hard to navigate. Some days, I moved forward with surprising clarity; others, I barely moved at all. Living with chronic illness while processing fresh layers of grief meant I wasn’t just managing tasks, I was managing energy, emotion, and hope in unpredictable waves.
Yet within all of that, something remarkable happened. I published my first journal.
It wasn’t just a business milestone, it was a deeply personal one. A symbol that even in seasons where I feel like I’m unraveling, I can still create something meaningful. This post is a reflection on that process: the emotional terrain, the physical lessons, the creative breakthroughs, and the mindset shifts that carried me forward.
Emotional Check-In: Holding Space for the Highs and Lows
May was emotionally complex. My feelings didn’t arrive in neat packages, grief didn’t wait until I had the energy to deal with it, and joy sometimes arrived in the middle of deep fatigue. Instead of trying to tidy it all up, I practiced naming what I was feeling and letting it be true, without judgment.
There were days when the sadness felt bottomless. Grief over loss, over changes in my body, over the life I thought I’d be living by now. But I also felt unexpected bursts of pride, especially when I held the final proof of my journal in my hands. That moment? It was a quiet roar, a whisper that said, “You did it, even from here.”
One thing that helped was seeing emotions as information, not obstacles. When I felt emotionally low, I asked myself: What is this trying to show me? That gentle curiosity helped me make space for both sorrow and celebration.
Body & Energy Awareness: Learning to Listen and Respond
Living with fibromyalgia means my energy isn’t consistent, and this month, the flares were loud. I had days when even brushing my hair felt like a monumental task. But instead of pushing through, I practiced listening.
I tracked my symptoms more intentionally this month, nothing fancy, just a few notes in my journal. I noticed patterns. I began to plan around the flare cycles instead of trying to push against them. And slowly, I began incorporating short, manageable movement: a 5-minute walk outside, a few bounces on the rebounder, a gentle stretch session before bed.
These micro-movements didn’t fix everything, but they helped me feel more connected to my body. They reminded me that care doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Sometimes the most profound act of healing is simply staying in conversation with our bodies.
Creative Breakthroughs: Progress in the Pause
If you’ve ever tried to build something while barely functioning, you know how discouraging it can feel. But here’s what surprised me: creativity doesn’t vanish during hard seasons, it just asks to be approached differently.
Finalizing and publishing my first journal wasn’t one big sprint. It was a series of tiny, wobbly steps. Some days I worked for 10 minutes. Other days, I made a single edit. And yet, piece by piece, it came together.
That moment of hitting “publish”? It felt like a quiet reclaiming of agency. Not in a “look what I accomplished!” kind of way, but more like whispering to myself, Even now, you are still capable of meaningful work.
Mindset Shifts: Reframing Rest as Rhythm
One of the biggest transformations this month was internal: I began seeing rest not as something I had to earn, but as something I was inherently worthy of. That shift changed everything.
I used to measure my worth by what I finished. Now, I’m learning to celebrate what I begin. Starting a project. Opening my laptop. Saying no to a meeting. Taking a nap when I need it. These things matter just as much as crossing items off a to-do list.
This mindset shift, honoring rest, trusting slow progress, finding dignity in limitation, has allowed me to move from feeling stuck to feeling in sync. I’m no longer waiting for “better days” to start. I’m creating with what I have, from where I am.
Looking Ahead: Creating a Sustainable Rhythm
June isn’t about hustle. It’s about rhythm.
I’m alternating between two big creative tracks: journal publication and digital toolkits. I’m currently working on my next journal while refining the productivity toolkit that helped me stay anchored during May’s challenges. I’m also updating my Notion workflows to better support my fluctuating energy, building systems that work with me, not against me.
My focus isn’t on speed. It’s on sustainability. I want to build a business that makes space for my health, honors my nervous system, and allows my creativity to flourish at a kind pace.
Tools That Helped Me This Month
These are the products I personally used to support my energy and creativity in May:
- Kensone Rebounder – Low-impact movement that supports lymphatic flow and boosts mood.
- Uniball One Gel Pens – My go-to pens for planning and journaling, especially when I need to write it out on paper.
- Focus To-Do – an easy-to-use time and task management application that helps me manage tasks anywhere and anytime. A favorite feature is the White Noise function, which allows me to choose what background noise I’d like to listen to while focusing.
- Notion – The system I’m using to organize creative projects and honor low-energy weeks.
- Kindle Scribe – My go-to for digital journaling and reading.
10 Journaling Prompts to Reflect on Your May
- What moment from May am I most proud of, and why?
- How did my body speak to me this month?
- What patterns did I notice in my energy or mood?
- When did I feel most connected to my creativity?
- How did I redefine success in small ways?
- What mindset shifts am I beginning to explore?
- When did I allow myself to rest without guilt?
- What helped me feel grounded during overwhelming days?
- What am I ready to leave behind from May?
- What would “a sustainable rhythm” look like for me in June?
Suggested AI Prompt for Readers
You can use this prompt in ChatGPT or any AI assistant to help you take action on this blog topic.
Suggested AI Prompt:
“Offer me some gentle journaling prompts to help me reflect on how to honor my body’s signals while still making progress toward my creative goals.”
Let’s Talk: How Are You Navigating the Fog?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, low-energy, or emotionally overwhelmed, I want to ask: how are you taking care of yourself through it all?
What practices are helping you show up gently but meaningfully in your creative or professional life?
You’re always welcome to reply in the comments or DM me on Instagram. I love hearing how others are honoring their rhythms while doing purposeful work.
A Gentle Reminder
You are not behind.
You are moving at the pace your life requires. Every pause, every small step, every moment of stillness is part of your becoming.
Keep going.