Tending the Fire - On Feeling Stuck
Sometimes we feel stuck. We’re not enjoying a particular aspect of our lives, but we’re also not in a place to completely remove it or make a huge change. In those moments, it can be helpful to explore: If I can’t remove the thing right now, how can I change *my relationship* with it?
Here’s an example:
Before I was coaching full-time, I ran an HR Department and one of my recurring responsibilities was payroll. Payroll is an important, detailed, sometimes tedious task that required my full attention. It really wasn’t a task that I disliked, but I often found myself not looking forward to it and slogging through– something needed to change.
I got curious about my relationship with payroll and I noticed that I was working on it mid-morning, when I felt most energized and the pull of countless tasks calling my name, which made it hard to focus. I often felt rushed and like I was squeezing it in, rather than giving it my full attention.
Then I asked myself: How can I make payroll as wonderful as possible? and what came up was *spaciousness*. I wanted to sink into it, not rush through it. Listening to this realization, I did my best to curate spaciousness around this project. I moved it from the morning to the afternoon, when my energy is a little lower and I like to hunker in and focus, rather than hop in different directions. I reserved an office with a comfy chair, cleared the afternoon schedule from meetings, made a “focused, chill” playlist, and brought tea and chocolate. Et voila! A task that I used to dread quickly became an afternoon that I looked forward to. ☕️🌿✨
It’s important to note that while I’ll never complain about tea and chocolate, that wasn’t the golden ticket here. The most important change in this example was honoring my energetic rhythm– being aware that I was trying to fit a slow-paced task during my most high-energy time of day. It was a bit of a round-peg-square-hole situation.
I’ve learned through personal experience and lotttsss of conversations with clients, that when we’re in tune with our rhythm and can align our actions accordingly, it creates a sense of ease. When things are not aligned, we tend to feel tension or strain in the process.
Here’s a snapshot of my daily rhythm. What about you, my friend? What does your energetic routine tend to look like? Perhaps you take a day or two to pay attention and notice, and then fill out your column below.
What does your energetic routine show you? Any round-peg, square-holes happening? These questions and more are in the Invitation section below if you feel like exploring.
For now, I’ll close by saying that I’m wishing you flow, and ease, and joy. Whatever a “life well-lived” means to you, I hope you are living it.
Big warmth, ,
Shannah 🤍
Nurtured Founder & Coach
Your turn! Let’s check in. The following questions are here as a way to tend your fire.
Remember, this doesn’t have to be a big time commitment to be helpful. If it feels good, put on a song, pick one question from the list, and noodle until the song ends.
Are there any tasks throughout my day where I feel stuck?
How might honoring my inner-rhythm help change how I relate with that task?
What does my inner-rhythm feel like throughout the day? If I were to fill out the energetic routine column above, what would it look like?
ONE small daily action I can and will take TODAY to honor my energetic rhythm and create more ease for myself is:
Big bravo for taking a moment to explore, check in, and tend your own fire. 🔥 If you would like to have your responses witnessed, I would be delighted to receive them! You could even email your completed Energetic Routine chart, that would just make my day! Email me anytime at shannah@gonurtured.com
Feeling stuck? Looking for more ease and flow? Let’s get some sessions on the books! I’m well versed in “unstucking” ourselves and would be honored to guide you through.