(This is part of a series on doing hard things – either chosen or when they’re thrust upon you – with style. We’re just beginning. Enjoy.)
When life life’s you, or when the simple drip-drip of life has worn you down, fuses get short. Hard things become so much harder than they need be.
Anxiety, rushing, forcing. Breaking down. Boiling over and blowing up. Or giving in and giving up – avoiding the difficult conversations.
The “mong” grabs you and you sedate with the screen and another glass. Pleasant, yes, but it’s separation on two fronts:
You’re in the room, but in a separate world. Not feeding your soul, it’s another night on the couch soaking in the scroll.
Then the regret. A sense of letting yourself down. Wasted opportunities.
Look – none of this is “You”.
But it is the result when your tank is low and you’re trying to drive at full speed.
It isn’t inevitable, the “price you pay” –
It’s data showing your inner ‘project management’ needs a tune-up.
Your wise human brain has gone offline. The immediate reaction of your inner chimp has taken the wheel.
So now you know.
To struggle gracefully, to get back in the driving seat, set three priorities:
1. Energy –
A fuller battery means you have a longer fuse. You cannot regulate your reactions running on fumes.
2. Awareness –
Step back. Mindfulness brings a clear signal. You catch the reaction while it’s still a baby.
Perspective too: The wise navigator knows every storm runs out of rain; the impulse chimp thinks it’ll be this way forever.
3. Choose –
Learn how to change your state before your state runs away with you. De-stress. But also stand up, disagree, ask for what you want: inhabit your life. Get off the couch and truly feed yourself.
Here’s the rub –
The busier you are, the more you’ll sneer at this, “Who has the time?”. Grief means you’ll struggle to look after yourself in a different way.
Neither is a useful strategy.
Truly switch off, truly charge your batteries, gain depth of awareness. This is your ally to excellence and style and potential, no matter what life throws at you.
End sleepwalking. Manage the load. Fully inhabit your life.
You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your practice.
Go well,
Arjuna
PS.
If any of this resonates, this is exactly why I practice Ascension every single day.
Not to hide from life, but to engage with it more skillfully, more happily. It’s a mechanical, enjoyable, and rapid way of plugging back in, and of dodging regret.
For details on courses, head this way (there’s one starting this Friday if you’re able to move quick):
https://www.arjunaishaya.com/ishayasascension
Remember! It’s free to repeat. Come on back. Be great to see you.
Or –
If you’re interested in how I might guide you personally, one on one, reply or send me a msg, let’s set a time to chat to talk this through.
I’d be delighted to talk.