Getting unstuck
This week I found myself stuck. Going round and round on the same thing, making no progress, having the same thoughts over and over again.
I kept thinking the way forward was right in front of me. If I just sat at my computer for longer, the answer would appear and I would be off to the races.
Spoiler alert: no such luck.
It’s not like this is unfamiliar territory. I’ve been stuck before. Sometimes it helps to just take a break and work on something else entirely; other times doing something unrelated (reading, cleaning, etc.) opens something up; occasionally a snack helps! (Or so I like to tell myself)
But the usual tricks weren’t working and I was GETTING.FRUSTRATED.
I finally resorted to what felt most counterintuitive. Put work away completely, call it a day, and head outside. As though I didn’t have deadlines looming. As if I were just off on a leisurely stroll with not a care in the world.
A few long strides and deep breaths later, I actually looked up and around. I watched the wind move the trees, I saw two squirrels playing a rousing game of chase, and I passed some colorful sidewalk-chalk art. I felt transported with those steps and those breaths. I started to relax, I thought about other things, and I remembered what I always know but seem to forget at least daily – getting outside shifts all my energy around with almost no effort.
This will be news to exactly no one, so I’m really only saying it to remind myself YET AGAIN…nature has special magic that simply cannot be accessed from the office chair or behind a computer screen. It has to be experienced in real time, in real life. It is, assuredly, the one consistent game changer that is ALWAYS available to ALL of us.
Oh, and if you are really present, and you are really paying attention…nature just might throw you a party, disco ball and all…
Just a little gem found in nature…er, maybe put there by a human, but either way…a gem…