The good news? I’m starting.
The bad news? I’m not sure where starting my sustainable income journey will lead me.
Yet, there’s something powerful about declaring a beginning, even when the path ahead is obscured. Today, I’m planting my flag: I’m building sustainable income that honors my health reality, not fights against it.
The Chronic Reality I’m Done Ignoring
What I’m fighting against in my head isn’t just doubt; it’s the very real limitations of chronic fatigue. I’m tired. I’m sensitive to my environment. Everyday brings its own energy system that I can’t always predict or control.
For years, I tried to power through these realities as if acknowledging them would mean giving up. I’m done with that approach.
I’ve slowly begun to acknowledge and integrate these limitations—not as excuses, but as the actual terrain I’m navigating.
It hasn’t been easy at the slightest.
The business advice that assumes consistent energy, predictable working hours, and unlimited focus simply doesn’t apply to my reality.
No Blueprint, Just Building Blocks
While I don’t have the complete blueprint (does anyone, really?), I do have building blocks that matter:
I have imjenlau.com – Where I’m posting about building a brand through connecting with my inner child. This space allows me to explore how our deepest healing influences our creative expression and business presence.
I have noboundariesdesign.com – My website design hub where I can leverage technical skills even on days when my creative energy fluctuates. This space represents years of expertise that doesn’t disappear on high-symptom days.
I have my current social media. – My active channels where I express myself quickly, visually, and on days where I feel like it.
Most importantly, I have me – A human being actively healing her layers. This isn’t separate from my income journey; it’s the foundation of it. My healing process has given me insights, perspectives, and approaches that others don’t have.
The Income Experiment
There’s no five-year plan here. No “foolproof system”. Just an experiment in sustainability:
- What if I designed income streams around my energy patterns instead of fighting against them?
- What if I treated my healing journey as a business asset rather than a liability?
- What if I built financial stability one aligned decision at a time?
The Two-Site Strategy
Having both imjenlau.com and noboundariesdesign.com might seem scattered to you, but it actually creates a flexible income ecosystem (more on when I talk about my building blocks for social media):
- When my vestibular symptoms flare, certain design tasks become difficult; but writing about inner child work may flow more easily
- When deep emotional processing takes center stage, having straightforward design projects provides structure
- Different income streams create safety nets for different health scenarios
Beginning Without Perfect Clarity
While many will think that starting without complete clarity is a fluke—this is the plan. The sustainable income I build must emerge from my actual experience, not from someone else’s blueprint. Although, I must say that maps do help but can’t be your template or complete guide
What I know for certain: my most aligned work happens when I honor both my limitations and my gifts. When I create from the intersection of my technical skills, my healing insights, and my fluctuating energy reality.
The sustainable income journey begins here—not with certainty, but with commitment. Not with perfection, but with presence.
I’m starting. That’s enough for today. I’ll be talking about how I’m using imjenlau.com as a way to start documenting me building a sustainable income.
Where are you starting from in your sustainable income journey? What building blocks do you already have, even if the complete blueprint isn’t clear yet?