Why, oh why… oh why… sometimes things feel so difficult.
Just the thought of having to do something, anything at all… fills us with instant resistance.
We have hit the wall, the motivation is gone. Our get up & go… got up and went away. There’s nothing. An empty space, instead of our usual ‘I can move mountains’ self.
Hours are filled finding other things to do, just to avoid doing the things we need to do. Even staring at the ceiling seems like a much better option.
The ‘ceiling stare’ can, however, provide plenty of space for thoughts… Is it burnout? Is it me? Everyone else seems to be doing so great. Why can’t I just get things done? I’m tired. I am so tired.
This is the point where we (you) need to dig deep (or sleep) and find what is holding us back. Is it that project we’ve been working on that is dragging us down? Our job? Relationships? Have I pushed myself too hard?
Allow for the internal monologue to be intense! Ask questions, demand answers. Demand honest answers, then respect the outcome of the discussion between you, yourself (and the ceiling).
When these moments (days/ weeks) come, some of us escape into silence, a complete unplug, no news, no noise, no social stuff.. nada.
Some, escape into being one with nature. Some escape into sports. Some will just draw the curtains, switch off the phone… maybe even open a bottle of something stronger.
Some of us will escape into music. A powerful tool I use to drag myself out of the abyss of the helpless lack of will to move forward.
Occasionally, we may need to allow ourselves to sit in our feelings, whatever they are, and for however long they demand our attention. Could these feelings be of self-pity, self-doubt, self-punishment? We may need to process these feelings first, before anything else takes place. Can we reach out to anybody? Do we even want to reach out?
As our own ‘head’ can be our worst enemy, we ought to recognise the tricks our mind responds to. We need to understand what makes it tick, what makes it move, and what will help to light our fire again.
Is it music, inspirational quotes, writing, films, family, friends? Or… could we simply recognise how truly fortunate we are to wake up every morning and be given another chance? A chance to put our best foot forward, make a difference, create something new, start from scratch!
For as long as we wake up, we can find our motivation. We can find it in happiness, we can find it in suffering. Motivation and inspiration are all around us! Even if we need to step back for a moment (or two) to see the world for what it is, and what it can be.
Agata Davies
Agata Davies 