How do I keep going when nothing seems to be working?

There comes a time in almost everyone’s life when we silently wonder:

“What’s the point of trying anymore?”

Maybe it’s been months of rejections.

Maybe you’ve put your heart into something — a job, a relationship, a dream — and it keeps slipping through your fingers.

Maybe life feels like a series of dead ends right now.

You’re exhausted, emotionally depleted, and deeply unsure of what comes next.

First — take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re simply in between — between what was and what could be.

In this blog on how to keep going when nothing seems to be working, we’ll move beyond empty motivation and instead offer soul-level insight, emotional tools, and quiet reminders that your path is still unfolding — even if you can’t see it yet.

And yes, I’ll also introduce you to something very close to my heart — my motivational workshops, created for moments just like these. Designed to offer reflection, reset, and realignment, they’re more than sessions — they’re safe, supportive spaces to feel again.

The Invisible Weight of Trying So Hard

Let’s start with something honest — the kind of honesty that often goes unsaid.

It’s hard to keep going when you’re trying everything you know, and life still feels immovable. What makes it worse? We live in a world that celebrates instant results and visible success, so when your efforts don't bear fruit quickly, it's easy to feel like a failure.

But here’s the quiet truth no one tells you:

“Progress isn’t always visible, and healing rarely looks like a highlight reel.”

You could be:

• Sending out resume after resume, with no callbacks.

• Starting over in your 30s or 40s and feeling ten steps behind.

• Fighting silent battles with your mental health.

• Trying to forgive someone — or yourself — but still waking up with heaviness.

None of that is easy. But all of it is valid.

And more importantly — none of it defines your worth.

Why We Feel Like Giving Up (And Why That’s Okay)

The desire to give up is not a sign of weakness — it is a natural response to emotional exhaustion. Especially when the world demands performance over presence.

Let us gently unpack this.

1. We are Wired for Certainty

Our brains crave clarity and control. So, when things spiral into the unknown, our mind interprets it as danger — even if it is just uncertainty. That is why you feel so anxious and tired.

2. You are Carrying More Than You Realise

Maybe you are the eldest daughter in a family. Or a breadwinner. Or a caregiver. Or someone everyone leans on. You might be strong on the outside, but inside, you are longing for someone to simply say, “You don’t have to hold it all.”

3. Life Feels Too Slow

We have been sold the myth of overnight success. So, when things take longer — years, sometimes — we assume something is wrong with us.

But success, healing, and self-worth aren’t fast food meals. They’re slow-cooked stories.

So… What Does “Keep Going” Really Mean?

It is not about grinding through burnout. It is not about putting on a brave face 24/7.

True perseverance is gentler. It is about:

• Allowing pauses without self-judgment.

• Honouring your limits without labelling them as failures.

• Taking one small intentional step — even if your heart is still unsure.

To keep going does not mean to run. Sometimes, it means to crawl… with your soul intact.

Step 1 – Rest Before You Rise

Let us flip the script: Rest is not a reward. Rest is the foundation.

When you are drained, don't ask: How can I be productive?

Ask: How can I be kind to myself today?

Here is what soulful rest might look like:

• Sleep without guilt: Let your body recover.

• Create silence: No screens, no stimulation, just space.

• Write freely: Journal your sadness, rage, and fatigue. No filters.

• Disconnect to reconnect: A weekend without comparison, news, or noise.

Rest is resistance — in a world that demands hustle, choosing stillness is a form of healing.

Step 2 – Reconnect With Your “Why”

When outer results fail to validate you, go inward.

Ask yourself:

• Why did I begin this journey?

• What would I still do, even if I never got applause for it?

• Which parts of me come alive through this?

Your "why" might not be clear immediately. And that is okay. But give it space. Nurture it like a candle in the wind — cup your hands around it.

Write a letter to your younger self — the one who dreamed big and felt alive. What would they want you to remember today? You will be amazed how a few honest lines can revive your spirit.

Step 3 – Rethink What Progress Looks Like

Progress is not always linear. It does not always show up in metrics or milestones.

Sometimes it is…

• Choosing to eat today when your upset mind says do not.

• Sending one email even when fear grips your chest.

• Saying “I need help” when your ego resists.

Let us expand the definition of success to include survival, softness, and sacred small wins.

Try This Soul-Win Tracker

Create a small notebook or digital note titled:

“Ways I’ve Shown Up for Myself Today”

Add just one line each night. Over time, this builds self-trust — and emotional momentum.

Step 4 – Surround Yourself with Soulful Support

Let us be real — not everyone will understand your journey. And not everyone is meant to.

You don’t need an army. You need a circle. Even two people who hold space without trying to “fix” you can change everything.

And if that feels unavailable in your current life — consider stepping into safe, facilitated spaces.

This is exactly why I created my motivational workshops.

These are not about toxic positivity or forced optimism. They are about:

• Naming your truth.

• Releasing your shame.

• Remembering your strength.

They include guided reflections, community exercises, and tools you can use long after the workshop ends.

👉 Ready to shift something within? Explore upcoming workshops here.

Inspiration Meetup with Samidha

Step 5 – Lean into Tiny Joys and Rituals

Big wins might be rare right now. But tiny joys? They are scattered everywhere.

• A warm cup of adrak chai (ginger tea).

• The softness of your pillow.

• That one song that always lifts you.

Daily Ritual Prompt

Ask: What is one moment I can romanticise today?

Even if it is something mundane — like washing dishes while listening to jazz — lean in fully.

It might sound silly, but it’s the tiny joys that often bring our hearts back online.

Step 6 – Accept the Messy Middle

You are not at the start anymore. But you are not at the finish either.

You are in the middle — the sacred chaos where transformation brews. It is murky. Confusing. Often lonely. But it is not meaningless.

“Nothing’s working” is not the same as “nothing is happening.”

Beneath the surface, your soul is being reshaped. This chapter is growing you in ways you will only understand later. Let it.

A Gentle Note to Your Future Self

There will come a day — maybe soon, maybe not — where you’ll look back and say :

“I’m proud I didn’t quit.”

Not because everything turned out perfect.

Not because the road got easier overnight.

But because somewhere along the way, you made a quiet, soul-deep choice:

To stay. To breathe. To try again.

You gave yourself permission to continue — imperfectly, tenderly, bravely.

Even when your heart felt heavy.

Even when the results did not show up.

Even when your mind whispered, “What’s the point?”

You kept going.

And that—not the success, not the recognition, not the perfect ending—will become the most sacred part of your story.

Because healing is not about having it all figured out.

It is about holding on to hope even when your hands feel tired.

So, take the next step — not to prove anything to the world, but as your quiet answer to how to keep going when nothing seems to be working. Because there’s still a life — full of meaning, connection, and quiet miracles — waiting for you beyond this moment.

Let your tomorrow self ‘thank’ your today self — for showing up, for staying soft, for not giving up on the possibility of more.

You are allowed to outgrow the version of you who wanted to give up.

And if you need someone to walk with you — to hold space, to reflect light, to say “I see you” —I’m right here.

Join my next motivational workshop — and let us rise together, one gentle breath at a time.