Do Nothing
During moments of reflection you may explore ideas from various people and resources who make things seem like the path forward is so simple, but the truth is that this isn’t always the case. You’re told to “face the problem head on,” or “just get it done.” Sometimes, however, it’s not always that easy. You may enter a period of your life where the storms are heavy, the clouds are thick, and your visibility has become completely obstructed causing you to become immobile. You feel as though you have lost complete control of your life. There’s no amount of guidance talk available to help you break through. What happens then; where do you go from here?
The issue with self-help that is offered from others is that they usually present you with an action that needs to take place. You need to complete another thing. That thing, no matter how big or small, may feel like another task that is out of your control and will eventually become another burden on your life. Before you do anything, do nothing. You have a million pieces of your life scattered about and you may try to prioritize what you may think is most important and begin to bite off too much at one time. This could only worsen things. First, simply examine each thing, each issue, or task that you are faced with. If you’d like, write them down. Just see them. You carry these burdens with you throughout each day and they weigh on your mind and body. It’s hard to process them, so you need a form of release. Your mind becomes crowded with these issues preventing you from clearly thinking through how they should be properly addressed. A clear mind is imperative to move forward. A congested mind is what’s causing your immobility. The key is to give your mind a subtle pressure release. Some write down their problems, others go for a walk, you may want to pray, or you may find taking a nap being helpful.
Once you have your obstacles visualized, still do nothing. Not yet. You have to return to a place of understanding that you have control over your situation. You are in control of your time and space. These are your most prized possessions that you must always safeguard. Work to reestablish trust in yourself that you are capable of getting things done and that you are in control despite how the circumstances may appear. This is done by becoming still to quiet the noise and simply observing. Because everything around you has become so noisy and chaotic, the strongest signal that you can send your mind is that you are in control. Become still in spite of what’s going on. This is an extremely powerful move. Stillness is a strategy, not a place to remain. Becoming still is the needed rest before you reset.
You have now reached a place of taking action. Your action, however, should be viewed as a practice or a trial run before you address the main issue. First, take care of something small that you are in control of. Take care of the laundry, load the dishwasher, or take out the trash for example. These things are clearly under your control and don’t get done without you moving on them. It sounds basic, but it will send a signal to your mind reminding you that you are capable of doing something. You can get things done.
Controlling the small things will reignite you and build your confidence towards taking action on whatever situation you are faced with. If there are several things on the table, take action on what may be the smallest situation first, if possible. There may be more serious issues that require your attention, so take care of those right away if needed. That’s okay. Understand what’s taking place. You’ve found stillness through reflection, discipline to prove that you are in control through refinement, and have made your presence felt by taking action through resonance. These are the foundational pillars of The Curated Chapter.
Life can throw you off track from time to time and you may search for ways to help reestablish your place to understand how to move forward again. Your troubles can be overwhelming, causing you to not know how to react. Maybe the key is not acting immediately. It may be a time for you to quiet things down, focus, and remind yourself that you are still in control. Rebuild, reset, and regain. This is the path forward.
