Better Than Smackin’ a Fish off Your Forehead: How to get yourself out of a rut
September 24th, 2008
Are you in a rut? Do you feel like you are swimming through chilled molasses with cinder blocks for flippers?
I have been in ruts before and I am sure (positive!) that I will find myself in one again…however, right now, with running the guesthouse and the launch of Train for Humanity, I feel like I am in the opposite state of a rut, whatever that is?
I can’t speak for you, but for me, I get caught in a rut when I am inactive. Specifically when I am not taking action on any new ideas, goals, or working to get a project off the ground.
Let’s call it a state of sedentary creativeness! (Probably grammatically incorrect but I don’t care.)
What happens?
You have an idea. No, you have a GREAT idea but you are not taking the requisite action or the steps that are required to get this “thing” going.
I know that sometimes we are just hanging in there and waiting for something better to come along. You’re kind of cruising and that’s okay.
However, if you find yourself in a good old-fashioned rut and would like to do something about it, you need to:
MAKE YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE
image source: minipixel
I am not talking bed of nails uncomfortable. I am talking about the uncomfortable, nervous feeling that you get when admitting to someone (your spouse, a friend, a telephone pole) one of the many plans, projects, or life changing moves that you would like to get started on.
It takes guts to take that first step and many don’t. EVER.
When I first started telling people that I was going to be my own boss and live in the Caribbean, I used to get these kind of sideways looks from people that said, “Sure you are buddy!” Now that can make you feel uncomfortable and like an idiot.
Nevertheless, I threw the proverbial elephant out there and I admitted and acknowledged what I was going to try to do. From then on, pursuing the goal of living in the Caribbean got much easier. The hard work and frustration wasn’t any easier, but just telling someone your plan, cockamamie as it might seem, makes it real and tangible.
Likewise, when I initially started to discuss Train for Humanity with people (I can still remember the first time I came out with the idea to someone)…I was like,
“Uh, I think I am going to see if I can create some good from my training and raise funds for humanitarian causes at the same time. And not only that, but I want to create Train for Humanity as a portal for other like-minded individuals and include social media and blogging too.”
Holy shit, talk about uncomfortable!
Seriously, though, this is just my humble opinion; ruts come from a lack of action.
Sometimes the path of least resistance, in this case a LACK of action seems like the easy way out. It’s not!
Perhaps you want to launch a new website, start a small business, or move overseas. Forget about failure and feeling like and idiot. Get off your ass and get out there today and make yourself uncomfortable by letting someone in on what you would like to be doing or pursuing.
If not, the alternative of smacking a fish off of your forehead to snap you out of it is waiting for you. :)
(Note: Leo, Dan, and I are still in training for Train for Humanity and hoping to raise $50,000 to help rebuild Darfur Peace & Development’s Shegegkaro School which was recently bombed…and subsequently destroyed. A Twitter message about what we are trying to do, or sponsoring one of us, is truly appreciated.)
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September 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I agree Mark. Lack of action on an idea usually does lead to one feeling like they’re in a rut. I also find that when I have problems in one area of my life it tends to paralyze me in the other areas too. I seem to be capable of only keeping the same routines going. Anything more requires an emotional and mental energy I can’t muster when I am worried about something else.
Which leads me onto the fact that I shouldn’t waste my time worrying, but that’s a whole other struggle, isn’t it?
I’m thinking about doing a post to get all my readers to hold me accountable for my creative goals. Now that my personal life is moving in a more favorable direction again, I’m a bit more relaxed and starting to fire up with setting some creative priorities for the next few months.
And congratulations again on the major steps forward you’ve taken in your own life. It seems you’ve found a real synergy of projects that work with who you are and that’s gold!
Kelly :)
September 24th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I so was blown away by your particular flavor of entrepreneurial spirit from the first I was introduced to you (on Triiibes, yes?) that I find it hard to believe you ever weren’t that way, or that you even have a fallow period. Silly, huh?
Love what you’re sharing. And yeah, sometimes just telling people is that one thing that gets all the other stuff in motion. Good on you!
September 24th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Mark:
I think you have set a great example of taking action and take control of your life. I am really happy that you are doing great!
It’s funny that I was looking for the photos of fish on people’s forehead after seeing your Tweet. I saw that red fish on Flickr too! Anyway, keep up the good spirit! I am right behind you!
September 25th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Hi Kelly - you should definitely do the post having people hold you accountable! When I ran the “What are your goals for this week?” post a while back, I wanted to hear everyone’s goals. But mostly it was to hold myself accountable, too.
Hi Communicatrix - oh yeah, I have plenty of fallow periods. :) If I can help snap just one person out of their rut, help them to escape the cube, or whatever then I would be pretty happy.
Hi Terence - for me, doing great would be retirement, but I figure if I have to work I might as well try and pursue projects that I think will be interesting…
September 25th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Agreed. Taking action is much more fun than just standing still :)
September 25th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I was JUST talking about this the other day! Never let someone else’s limits be your own. Glad you had the courage to go our your own route.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hello Mark,
Thanks for this post. It’s a great reaffirmation for me. I’ve recently decide to make myself uncomfortable, and the results have been awesome! My wife and I decided we wanted to take our home business to the next level. We had gotten comfortable with our life and had flat spotted in our business. We had to get uncomfortable to create the drive within it.
Thanks again!
October 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Just what I needed!!! Thanks!