In the new year, if you begin to “spiral down”, no matter what the reason, it is a sign. Something is out of whack. If you don’t feel hopeful about your relationship, the economy, or your career; if you see others who seem to have it all figured out and secretly envy them; if your projects overwhelm you, you need something to help you spiral back up.
Even though an occasional dip is normal, it doesn’t mean you have to stay there for long. Here are four ways to move yourself through the valley so you can ascend the mountain.
- Slow Down
- Clear the Clutter
- Reconnect
- Reassess
Slow Down
Right before the spiral notice the tendency to overexert. You are acting out of fear. Fear that there aren’t enough opportunities. Fear that you are running out of time. Fear that you aren’t keeping up. Fear that you are running out of money. The tendency is to get distracted with opportunities or “doing” so that you don’t feel those fears. The illusion is that you are going to find the magic formula if you just “do” one more thing. The reality is you will never create success when you are feeling frustration and failure. It isn’t possible to be in “drama” during the journey and arrive at the island called Nirvana.
You must recognize the urge to do more as an addiction, and you must consciously decide to be in charge of your compulsion and slow down or even stop for one day.
Clear the Clutter
Clutter manifests because you didn’t see the signs. You added one more thing to your unfinished projects. You didn’t slow down and now you are overwhelmed with a list of tasks that are not attached to a plan. Signs of clutter are an e-mail in box with 2000 emails, stacks of magazines you intend to read, piles of junk you keep promising you will sell on e-bay. Clutter only reminds you of all you haven’t done and promises you haven’t kept. On your “slow down” day, instead of working on another project or coming up with yet another idea, clean the clutter.
Reconnect
When you spiral down you often feel old patterns surfacing. You feel self-doubt, unworthiness or envy. All you need to do is reconnect. Reconnect spiritually and relationally. Spend some time in prayer, journaling or meditation. To paraphrase Wayne Dyer, “it’s always between you and God anyway.” Reconnecting spiritually will remind you that your depression, fear or overwhelm is not about your situation or other people it is because you have lost connection. Reconnecting with others can also give you a huge boost of energy if you do so from a pure intention. Don’t look at others as a means to an end, such as hoping they will purchase something from you or give you a good lead. Just enjoy their company, see the value in them as a person and you will be surprised how easily it is to get recharged.
Reassess
Most of what you believe to be true is just a story you are making up. You see someone else and believe they have it made because they are wealthy, famous, beautiful or all three. In reality you can never know what someone else is going through. Everyone has challenges and every person has his own demons to face. So many times people have been in admiration of me when I was going through my own private world of despair. Instead of automatically believing every thought that pops into your head, select the thought offering you the highest and best truth
while still allowing you to change or improve what is necessary.
Marlene Chism is the founder of Stop Your Drama, and the author of Success is a Given. To get a copy of her book, go to www.successisagiven.com
(Top photo courtesy of Sun Star)
excellent stuff as usual, Marlene. You are right on.