Getting Unstuck

Paying the price

Years ago I worked as a communications coordinator in a growing company. There were many time-sensitive projects I was responsible for. I would have moments where I wondered how I would accomplish all that was required of me.

On the weekend, if I wasn’t working, I would be so tired that it seemed I could never get enough sleep.

I was told this was all part of paying the price as a 20-something. And I was up for the challenge – at least for a period of time. Even at that early stage, something inside me knew that the pace I was running on was unsustainable longterm.

The Shift

While vegging out in front of the TV one Sunday afternoon, I came across a direct response ad promoting different uplifting books. This was before the big-box book store surge and Oprah’s book club … and I was in search of something uplifting, so it grabbed my attention.

A cute little set of 3 books with motivating quotes caught my eye. Something the announcer said went straight to my heart. I called the 1-800 number and immediately bought them.

The quote has stayed with me ever since:

“The good news is that the bad news can be turned into good news when you change your attitude.”

-Robert H. Schuller

It seemed like such a simple idea, but I came to learn over time that the simplest shifts are often the most powerful. The power is in practicing them regularly.

I learned to look for ways to change my attitude about what I faced in my work and personal life. When I did, new ideas and approaches to the challenges I faced began to emerge.

The Practice

Those small but powerful books sat by my computer monitor at work for several years. Every time I would have a stressful moment, I would push my chair back, grab a book and leaf through it until I found a quote or verse that spoke to what I was experiencing in that moment.

This simple practice only took me a minute or two and it helped me regain focus and reconnect to my greater purpose. I still love reading and sharing inspiring stories and quotes with others on the sometimes rocky road of life.

I often tell my kids when I’m not operating at my best that, like the U2 song, “Mama’s stuck in a moment.” Because that’s exactly what many of the daily challenges we face are. Moments. Some longer, some shorter, but we all eventually move on to different things.

This is timely, yes?

I initially wrote a draft of this post back in 2014, after losing my sister to cancer. Then I shared it with a friend after she journeyed through a personal event that had blind-sided her. I’ve since revisited it during other significant losses in my life. Now, here we are in the midst of a global health and economic crisis. And the message still applies.

Your future. My future. Our collective society’s next act relies on the attitude we possess as we move forward.

There are so many factors that are beyond our control. Innumerable heartbreaking stories to wade through. Some are others’, some are ours. Either way, we get to choose the attitude we move forward with: One of hope or one of defeat.

In my experience, hope is easier to cling to in community with other hopeful people. I invite you to surround yourself with hopeful people and messages to carry you through this time and to guide you to getting unstuck.

Regardless of how muddy the waters are right now, you’re still here and there is a purpose for your life. Shifting your attitude to one of possibility and gratitude for what IS working around you may lead you in beautiful new directions.

Tell Me:

Do you find yourself in a loop of not knowing what action to take? (Fyi… I’ve been in and out of this one!) What’s one area of your life that could use the most hope these days? When was a time that you experienced the deep satisfaction of getting unstuck and moving into greater purpose?

Please share in the comments. We move onwards and upwards better together.

Here’s to your next great moment!

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Blessings,
Sheila