Are You Stuck or are You Still?
I must figure it all out right now!
This seems to be my motto. I hate that feeling of being stuck; I need a new career, new place to live, new job and a new idea. And I need them now. Usually this is when a new notebook seems to be in order. There are times though, that I may not be as stuck as I think. I just need to take a pause. Regroup. Be still for a moment.
The states of being stuck and being still seem to have a lot in common: inaction, a lull, no forward progress, a lack of movement. But their energies are much different. Feeling stuck can make us restless, confused, and despairing. We feel a sense of urgency, but the energy has nowhere to go. In stillness, the energy does not need to go anywhere. It is placid, peaceful, serene.
In that state of urgent stuckness it’s hard to figure out what I should do or even what I want. Often, I am convinced that if I just sit down and concentrate really hard (insert furrowed brow here) that I will figure out my next step. It never seems to happen that way though.
It is only when I allow myself to be still and accept my current situation that I get the clarity I need, and an idea as to how I need to move. I allow myself to embrace the uncertainty, despite how uncomfortable it can be.
Embracing my current situation is not a resignation. It is not about accepting that this is how it is always going to be. Rather, it is coming to an understanding that the situation is temporary and that I need to trust myself. Because the more I fight my way out of the stuckness, the more stuck I feel. I need to quit trying so hard. I need to let go.
In the stillness, I often feel a sense that a change is coming, that an answer is headed my way. So I allow myself to be still in the moment and turn my attention to something else. Sometimes I clean out a closet, or my desk, or clear the clutter in some area of my home. Sometimes I tackle the big “to be filed” file, and other times I take long walks.
The stillness reminds me to let go of my expectations and not worry so much about the outcome. Focusing on what is in front of me clears the path, and things start to open up a little more. My mind lets go of the frenetic energy of “I MUST FIGURE IT OUT RIGHT NOW!!!” and gives me space. And in that space, new ideas can form, perspectives start to shift, and I know that new possibilities are possible.
If you are feeling stuck, perhaps it is the perfect time to be still. And in the stillness, you can still journal.
Journal prompts to consider:
What is right in front of me that needs to be taken care of?
What can I appreciate right now?
What have I been ignoring?
What does stillness look like for me?
What can I let go of to allow for the stillness?