How to Turn 'This Isn't Working' Into Your Next Right Step
- Lay Jordan
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Have you ever been in the middle of working on something important, only to feel frustration bubbling up because nothing is going as planned? You're losing patience, feeling incompetent, and at your worst, you start wondering if you should just give up altogether. That moment of realization (when your plan falls apart, your energy isn't there, your creative vision exceeds what's realistic, your health unexpectedly shifts, your finances won't stretch as far as you thought, or external circumstances derail your timeline) isn't the end. It's actually a signal, and how you respond to it determines whether you grow or stay stuck.
In A Little Atypical Episode 59, I dive deep into the "showing up despite" mindset. It's a transformative approach to consistency that honors your effort at any percentage, not just at 100%. If you've ever felt stuck in the "I fell off" cycle or struggle with all-or-nothing thinking, this episode explores why showing up despite challenges isn't harsh but compassionate. I share real examples from morning routines to creative projects, plus a personal story about navigating burnout, an accountability update on my fall transition, and a card pull that perfectly ties into stepping into your power even when things feel imperfect. Check out the episode in any of the links below to hear the full story.
Episode No. 59
Where to listen:
Below, I'll walk you through a simple three-step framework for turning struggle into strategy: recognizing signals as data (not failure), separating emotion from evaluation, and identifying small pivots you can test. I'll also share a recent story to show how this works in real life. But to hear the full "showing up despite" mindset and how it applies across all areas of life, you'll want to listen to the complete episode.
Three Steps to Turn Struggle Into Strategy
The Scenario: Job Searching When Nothing Seems to Click
You've been applying to jobs for three months. Dozens of applications sent, resume tweaked more times than you can count, interview answers practiced until you could say them in your sleep. But the rejections keep rolling in. Or worse, you just hear nothing. Radio silence. You start spiraling: "Am I even qualified for this? Should I just give up on this whole career thing and settle for whatever I can get?"
This is where the framework from Episode 59 helps. Instead of letting self-doubt win or rage-quitting your entire career plan, you can use these three steps to figure out your next move:
1. Recognize the Signal (Not Failure, But Data)
Another rejection email lands. You think, "I'm not good enough." But what if this rejection is just information? The rejection isn't the problem. It's telling you something about your approach, whether that's your resume, your networking strategy, or the types of roles you're targeting. This shift from "I'm failing" to "I'm learning" creates room to adapt instead of giving up.
2. Separate Emotion from Evaluation
It's late at night. You're scrolling through job postings you've already applied to three times. Frustration turns into shame. "Everyone else has their life together. What's wrong with me?" Right now, emotion and evaluation are so tangled that you can't tell if your strategy needs work or if you just need to be kinder to yourself. You can only figure out your next step when you're not drowning in feelings.
3. Identify One Small Pivot to Test
You've recognized the signal. You've separated emotion from evaluation. Now comes the pivot. You don't scrap your entire career plan. You don't start from zero. You find one small thing to adjust. Maybe instead of sending 10 generic cover letters a week, you send 5 really tailored ones. Maybe instead of only applying online, you message one person in your network each week. Small pivots accumulate into meaningful progress.
Want the full framework? Episode 59 goes deeper into each of these steps, plus includes an accountability update on my fall transition, what I'm grateful for, and a card pull that perfectly ties into stepping into your power even when things feel imperfect. If you're tired of the "I fell off" cycle or struggle with all-or-nothing thinking, this episode will show you how showing up despite challenges isn't harsh but compassionate. Listen now to discover how partial presence beats perfect absence every time.
Here's how this played out in my own life recently. I had an ambitious plan for the day, but my body and circumstances had other ideas. What I did next is exactly what I teach in Episode 59: I adapted instead of abandoning.
A Real Example: When My Plan Had to Change
I had to change my plan today. Something I've been working on is getting better at prioritization, and today I had an ambitious list: hit 15,000 steps (including a 30-minute Grow with Jo workout), record a podcast episode, read up to chapter 24 of The Master and Margarita, send 2-3 networking messages, add graphics to Episode 58's show notes, start the show notes for this episode, and watch two videos from my Marketing Analytics course.
But here's what actually happened:
Working on a new Podcast Episode became a lesson in letting go.
Planning out my monthly themes worked so well in 2025 that I'm doing it again this year. January was ambitious. I released 7 episodes by working on them in advance. In February, I'm scaling back to one episode per week before reducing further in March. The theme of the month is the late bloomer experience, and for this specific episode, I was exploring why people experience things later in life.
I originally had five main points. But by the time I finished recording just the first point (which had four sections), the raw recording was 36 minutes long. I hadn't even touched the other four points, the conclusion, or the wrap-up. I realized I had two choices: force myself to record an overstuffed, exhausting episode, or pivot.
I decided to remove those four sections from the episode and use them for the show notes instead. This made the episode shorter and easier to edit, prevented information overload for listeners, and gave my voice a much-needed break. Recording has been hard on me lately. Balancing multi-creator work with building a career outside of content creation is difficult and overwhelming. I think I struggle with the need to put every perspective into one piece of work, maybe because covering all the bases feels like it reduces the chance of disagreement or controversy. But this way of creating isn't realistic or sustainable. My content doesn't need to be overstuffed to be valid.
Physically, I wasn't at my best.
I was experiencing cramps and pain in the back of my ankles. I was also really exhausted. Monday night I only got four hours of sleep, didn't nap, then went to bed at 11 PM and got six hours of sleep. Tuesday, I ended up sleeping longer than planned and slept for another four hours. I debated whether I should work out at all because I just didn't feel great. But I still showed up. I worked out at a lower intensity. It was a reminder that I can just focus on showing up to honor my commitment, even if it doesn't look perfect.
As someone who is ambitious, I can't always meet my ambitions physically.
And that's okay. Before I went to sleep, I read at least up to chapter 19 of The Master and Margarita. While trying to get halfway to my step goal, I was walking and typing this post. Then I decided I'd save the other half of my steps until after dinner. I didn't have to rush to do it all at once.
I think the biggest thing people can take from this is that you don't have to do everything perfectly, and small pivots are necessary. This is especially true if you're like me, a woman with unstable energy, big dreams, and high ambitions. In the past, I would get so upset at myself for not being able to do more. But today, I'm proud of my ability to shift how I do things, even with the discomfort. Sometimes our emotions and beliefs skew our actions into thinking, "If it's not done right, I shouldn't do it at all and just do it another day." But things don't have to go as planned for me to show up.
Your Action Step for This Week
This week, I want you to identify one thing on your plate that feels like it's "not working." Instead of abandoning it or pushing through with sheer force, ask yourself: What's one small pivot I can test? Maybe it's adjusting your timeline, lowering the intensity, or breaking a big task into smaller pieces. You don't need to overhaul your whole life. You just need to take one step in a better direction.
Final Thoughts
Things don't have to go as planned for you to show up. Progress isn't about perfection. It's about adaptation. If you want to hear more about navigating the late bloomer experience, handling setbacks, and building a life that works for you, tune in to the podcast for February 2026. And don't forget to check out previous episodes, either, like Episode 59, because my goal as a creator is to create bodies of work that build off each other, and I promise you there is so much to discover from my podcast. Let's keep figuring out life and exploring the human experience together.
Episode 59 Description:
🌟 Feeling stuck in the cycle of starting strong but giving up when things get tough? In this empowering episode, Lay introduces "showing up despite" - a life-changing approach that could transform your relationship with consistency. Through relatable examples from daily routines to creative pursuits, learn why persistence matters more than perfection - especially on your hardest days.
Perfect for anyone struggling with perfectionism, burnout, or the dreaded "I fell off" mindset. Plus, get inspired by seasonal transitions, community connections, and a special Moonology reading that reminds us: your confidence is the key to your success!
Key Topics:
The evolution from "showing up no matter what" to a more sustainable philosophy
Real-world examples of what "showing up despite" looks like across different life areas
Breaking free from the all-or-nothing "I fell off" mindset
How small, imperfect actions accumulate in surprising ways
Personal updates on fall routines, reading list, and seasonal transitions
Whether you're facing burnout, mental health challenges, or simply trying to maintain consistency through life's ups and downs, this episode offers practical wisdom for honoring your commitments to yourself - even on the hardest days.
Links Mentioned:
Subscribe for new episodes every week and remember - you don't need to be perfect to make progress.
Follow my socials
Tik Tok- @Simplylayxx
YouTube- @SimplyLayxx
Instagram- @Simplylayxx
Twitter- @Simplylayxx
Pinterest- @Simplylayxx
Check out my blog post www.SimplyLay.com
Music by Remil - Evening Tea - https://thmatc.co/?l=DFECB5D4
Section | Timestamp | Notes |
Why "Keep Showing Up" Isn't Enough & What "Showing Up Despite" Really Means | 00:00 |
|
How "Showing Up Despite" Evolved From Surviving to Thriving: A Personal Journey Through Burnout | 01:30 |
|
Real-World Examples: What "Showing Up Despite" Actually Looks Like in Daily Life | 03:34 |
|
Breaking Free From All-or-Nothing Thinking: Why "Showing Up Despite" Is Self-Compassion, Not Harshness | 05:41 |
|
Personal Update: Progress with 5 Categories, Fall Routines & Gratitude for Community Connections | 07:40 |
|
Comments