From Overwhelm to Empowerment: My Journey to Publishing "Me Time Mentality"

Are you a busy mother feeling overwhelmed by guilt and burnout, wondering if you can ever reclaim your true self?

In this blog, I share the raw, real story of my chaotic journey—from a wild day in Turkey, managing meltdowns and panic, to transforming that overwhelm into a clear, actionable path with the Me Time Mentality.

Discover how I turned my struggles into a roadmap for high-performance living that lets you achieve your dreams without sacrificing family love. Ready to learn the secrets to turning guilt into gratitude and reclaiming your identity? Dive into my story now!

I'm Lauren Selby Jones, an Award-winning Elite Performance Master Coach and founder of LSJ Life Coaching. I started my business with one clear mission: to teach ambitious mothers how to achieve their personal and professional goals without sacrificing their family life. My new book, Me Time Mentality – A Mother Reclaiming Her Identity, is the culmination of that mission. It’s filled with practical tools and techniques to help mothers transform guilt into gratitude and growth. But the journey to publishing this book was far from easy.

The Spark: Why I Wrote the Book

Before I embarked on writing Me Time Mentality, I was in a place of profound overwhelm. As a mother, I had experienced the heartache of losing myself—drowning in guilt, struggling with burnout, and sacrificing my dreams for the sake of my family. I spent years and thousands of pounds searching for answers, trying to balance my ambitions with the responsibilities of motherhood. I knew there had to be a better way, and that realisation fueled my determination to create a system that could help other mothers escape the cycle of guilt and overwhelm.

I envisioned a roadmap that would empower mothers to reclaim their identity, establish high-performance habits, and, ultimately, live a life where they could pursue their dreams while nurturing their loved ones. This vision was so clear and urgent that I poured every bit of my heart into writing the book. Yet, as the manuscript took shape, a new challenge emerged—publishing.

The Publishing Hurdle: Overwhelm Strikes Again

Despite the passion and clarity I had when writing the book, the process of publishing it quickly became overwhelming. I found myself trapped in a web of self-doubt and fear. Questions kept swirling in my mind: “What if it goes wrong? What if I can’t do this?” Even though I was a coach—someone who guided others through their personal challenges—I was now facing the very same internal obstacles I’d been helping others overcome.

The publishing process was a roller coaster. I wanted to bring my book to life in time for Mother’s Day in the UK, a goal that made perfect sense given my own journey and the timing of my life. Yet, the pressure of deadlines, the fear of failure, and the complexity of navigating the publishing world made me feel like I was drowning once again. I was overwhelmed, and the self-doubt crept in, whispering that I might not be ready or capable of handling this monumental task.

A Journey in Turkey: A Glimpse of Relief Amid Chaos

I’ll never forget a particular moment in Turkey in 2023 that encapsulated the kind of overwhelming chaos I was trying to manage—and that taught me a powerful lesson in resilience. While travelling with my family in Turkey, we spent three unforgettable months together. Our children played joyfully—rolling in the mud when it rained and frolicking in the park under the warm, sunny skies. Yet, as every parent knows, travelling with young children can be both magical and maddening.

One day in a huge park in Fethiye, I experienced an intense moment of panic that mirrored my current struggles with publishing. My middle child, Jaxon, a curious explorer of just three years, darted off to the slide the moment my youngest, Alara (then 1), fell and ended up with a bloody nose. To make matters worse, my eldest, Tobias, who was 7 and neurodivergent, had an overwhelming meltdown because our plan had changed when his friend didn’t show up as expected. In a matter of minutes, I found myself in a chaotic scene: three children scattering in different directions, a little one with a nosebleed, and a terrified, overwhelmed mother who felt like she had lost control.

This is just park of the park - I had a lot of ground to cover!

Images from Marcus Schwarz, a dear fellow van-life parent from Germany.

I managed to catch my breath by using one of the high-performance habits I advocate—my “peace & calm” technique. I took a moment to centre myself, recalling a visualisation from Me Time Mentality, where Julie imagines red balloons in “Chapter 8 – The Challenges of Change.” I engaged in a quick breathing exercise, which I then used with Tobias to help him calm down. I asked him to think like Jaxon—where would he go, what was his favourite part of the park when the sun was setting? Slowly, we reassembled: we found Jaxon, attended to Alara’s nose, and, together, our family gathered for a cuddle. We each said three things we were grateful for, a small ritual that helped us reset and reconnect without descending further into panic.

If you have not been to this park you should - its open in the evening and well lit too!

Images from Marcus Schwarz, this is us rescuing the kids one evening.

That day, I realised that in moments of chaos, even a few minutes of mindful self-care can transform panic into clarity and control. This experience, full of raw emotion and resilience, reminded me that I already possessed the tools to manage overwhelm—and that the same principles could help other mothers as well.

This is another side of the Park - for context!

Image from Joshiah Ravish: Through The Lens: Türkiye - via Google Search.

Overcoming the Publishing Overwhelm: My Call to Becky

Fast forward to the publishing phase of my book, and I found myself reliving that same sense of panic and overwhelm. I was grappling with self-doubt—wondering if I was truly capable of navigating the complex world of publishing if my book would ever see the light of day, or if I’d end up feeling as lost and unsupported as I had during those chaotic moments in Turkey.

That’s when I decided to reach out for help. Two years after my Turkey adventure, I called Becky from RavencrestBooks.com—a publishing coach who, like me, is a devoted mother of three small children. Becky and I met while travelling with our families in Turkey, and we bonded instantly over our shared experiences of parenting chaos and the overwhelming challenges that come with it. Becky’s empathy, coupled with her practical expertise in publishing, provided the guidance I desperately needed. Her support transformed my approach to publishing from a source of anxiety into an actionable, step-by-step process.

With Becky’s coaching, I learned to apply the same high-performance habits I teach in my own practice to the publishing process. I discovered that I could break down the daunting task into manageable steps, each building upon the last. Becky helped me focus on what I truly wanted to achieve with my book, and together, we set a realistic timeline—one that aligned with my goal of having the book published in time for Mother’s Day in the UK. She provided accountability, practical advice, and a fresh perspective that helped me navigate the complexities of the publishing world without feeling overwhelmed.

The Transformation: Me Time Mentality in Action

Reflecting on this journey—from the chaos of a challenging day in Turkey to the overwhelming process of publishing my book—I realised that the principles I teach are not just theoretical. They are real, practical tools that can transform even the most daunting challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

1. Clarity & Compassion: The Foundation

Before I could overcome the obstacles in publishing, I had to reconnect with myself. I needed to regain clarity on my purpose and show myself compassion for the inevitable mistakes along the way. I remembered that I was not defined solely by my struggles but by my resilience and my desire to help others.

2. Courage: Taking the First Step

Armed with clarity about what I wanted to achieve, I had to muster the courage to take action—even when fear threatened to paralyse me. It wasn’t about being fearless; it was about moving forward despite the fear. Each small step I took, from reaching out to Becky to setting manageable deadlines, built my confidence.

3. Communication: Enlisting Support

Effective communication turned out to be a crucial part of my journey. I learned to articulate my needs—both to myself and to those around me. Reaching out to Becky was a turning point. By expressing my challenges honestly, I not only received the help I needed but also forged a meaningful connection with someone who understood the intricacies of balancing motherhood with personal ambition.

4. Commitment: Staying the Course

Publishing a book is not a one-time event—it’s a marathon. I committed to the process, reminding myself that even if progress was slow, every step was a victory. This commitment, reinforced by regular check-ins with Becky, kept me on track, even during moments of self-doubt.

5. Consistency: Building Lasting Habits

Finally, I realised that true transformation comes from consistency. Just as I advocate for daily “Me Time” to recharge and reflect, I integrated regular publishing tasks into my routine. Consistency ensured that I didn’t revert to old patterns of overwhelm and inaction. Over time, these consistent efforts led to a successful publication, proving that even the most formidable challenges can be overcome with steady, intentional effort.

The Ultimate Message: Empowerment Through the Me Time Mentality

I wrote Me Time Mentality – A Mother Reclaiming Her Identity to share these insights with mothers everywhere. I know the pain of guilt, the crushing weight of overwhelm, and the loss of self that can come with motherhood. I also know that with the right tools and mindset, you can transform that pain into gratitude, growth, and lasting success.

My journey has taught me that every challenge is an opportunity to rediscover your inner strength. Whether you’re grappling with self-doubt in the middle of a chaotic day or feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of pursuing your dreams, remember that you have the power to reclaim your identity and create a life that honours both your ambitions and your family.

A Call to Action: Let’s Transform Your Journey Together

If my story resonates with you—if you’ve ever felt the same overwhelm, the same guilt, and the same burning desire to reclaim your life—I invite you to take the next step.

Book a free call with LSJ Life Coaching today.

Together, we’ll explore how the Me Time Mentality can empower you to transform guilt into gratitude, establish sustainable habits, and achieve the balanced, high-performing life you deserve.

Visit www.laurenselbyjones.com to schedule your free call and start your journey to clarity, courage, and lasting transformation.

In Conclusion

Publishing Me Time Mentality was one of the most challenging yet transformative experiences of my life. I’ve navigated chaos—from the wild, unpredictable days in Turkey to the overwhelming hurdles of the publishing world—and emerged stronger, more focused, and deeply committed to helping other mothers thrive. My story is proof that when you blend compassion with clarity, and back it up with courage, communication, commitment, and consistency, you can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I believe in your power to reclaim your identity and excel in every aspect of your life. Let’s work together to turn overwhelm into opportunity and guilt into the fuel for your success.

Remember: You deserve to live a life where your ambitions and your family coexist in perfect harmony.

Book your free call today, and let’s transform your journey together!