Maybe You Aren't Stuck (It's worth a thought)

May 6, 2009 2:09 PM

This week's article is short and sweet. I'm at A Conversation Among Masters, where I've been riveted, delighted, and nurtured since Sunday evening. Wow.

Now, the the point.

A while back, one of the amazing citizens of Shaboom County started a thread in the Town Hall Forum about being stuck. Before responding, I went back and re-read her previous posts.

And I didn't see evidence of stuckness.

Instead, I saw post after post about the steps this amazing woman was taking to develop a program, refine it, market it, and deliver it. (Rinse and repeat.)

Along the way she asked for and received guidance and support around leading teleclasses, writing copy for her Web site, and pricing. She'd posted numerous drafts of articles and brochures.

And she revised and reposted them after getting feedback.

Not what I call stuck.

It's Natural
What I did see, and what I want to you to see is that she was experiencing natural (inevitable) energy and mood shifts around her work.

This was no surprise given movement in the tectonic plates of her life. But loss of focus, discouragement, and confusion can happen even when things are going swimmingly.

Why is this important? Because if we take these ups and downs personally, we invite self doubt, self criticism, and a host of inner demons to take over.

Of course we don't see it that way at the time.

From our point of view, we are just trying to get unstuck. Working harder. Sucking it up. Focusing. Facing our demons.

Fugeddaboutit!

Some demoms are best left to play amongst themselves.

What to Do When You Think You're Stuck
This still leaves the question, "What do I do when I feel stuck?"

And there is an incredibly simple answer.

Do something else.

Go for a walk. Take a nap. Read a good book.

You can even work on or in your business, so long as you choose something different from the thing you feel stuck about.

Stuckness won't last. It can't. That's a law of nature, foks, you can trust me on this one.

Change will happen and you'll be unstuck soon enough. Might as well enjoy the ride in the meantime.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.shaboominc.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/307

Comments

Thanks so much, Molly! That's right where I am! And when I look, I see I am moving (enough to scare me!)

And you have given me permission to not feel guilty for the breaks I take - to read my current novel or murder mystery!

What lightness of being you just provided!

Posted by: Lynne Tolk at May 7, 2009 8:20 AM

Wow, Molly, that's just where I am.
You have given me permission (yet again) to be myself and do what I can (including breaks to read novels). I can start my day with new lightness!
Thanks so much!

Lynne

Posted by: Lynne Tolk at May 7, 2009 8:38 AM

Being stuck--or not. A seige of family health issues and death beginning 3 years ago disrupted my painting momentum, and the economy eliminated all my gallery representation. At a creative impasse, I took classes & read books about getting unblocked, maintained and improved my website, and painted very little (a second frozen shoulder forced me to try painting left-handed with entertaining results.) But I still feel blocked. Where did the joy go?

Last week I attended a birding convention, enjoying a couple artists who were selling bird-related art. And of all things, I was enchanted by one who was watercoloring assembly-line style on her preprinted pen and ink notecards. It reminded me of coloring when I was a child. It also made me think I might have allowed art to become too complicated. PhotoShop, digital photography, DreamWeaver (replaced by FineArtStudioOnLine), and attempting to resolve current marketing difficulties are all stress-filled endeavors. What if I turn my back on them for a time, and just paint, play with color, smoosh that lovely oil paint around....

Posted by: Yvonne at May 8, 2009 12:00 PM

Lynne, Yvonne--

I am grateful for your comments this morning.

I awoke in my own bed after a week away, feeling quite stuck. Wouldn't you know?

And having written this post just two days ago, I'm reminded that how I think I feel is none of my business.

My business is to breathe in and breathe out.

Everything changes, with or without my help.

Love you guys!

Posted by: Molly Gordon at May 8, 2009 12:49 PM

"As soon as I have more power over my brush, I shall work even harder than I do now ... it will not be long before you need not send me money any more." Van Gogh

Posted by: Oil painting techniques at January 13, 2010 5:19 AM