I’ve had writers block. Or is it blogger’s block? Whatever it is, I’ve been blocked. My mind can conjure up a dozen good reasons as to why I haven’t written a blog in almost six months. Maybe it was reading some of the negative comments from the last blog that I wrote. Perhaps it was the lawsuit against me based on a previous blog (don’t ask). The truth is that once our minds get used to a specific identity, it can be difficult to change. For a long time I was in a good creative flow, and comfortable with the identity of being a writer. I would come up with ideas and the words would flow freely. I created goals and achieved them, like getting published on the Huffington Post.
Then life happens. I took a family vacation, and figured that I would stop writing to “recharge.” Time passed, and I noticed that new ideas were not popping into my head when I sat down to write. Slowly, my perspective transitioned from that of an author to a person with writer’s block. David would sweetly say, “How about we brainstorm ideas for a new blog today?” “You brainstorm ideas for a blog today,” I would sarcastically mumble like a 15 year old. Admittedly this was the not the most mature response.
I would lament with friends about having writer’s block, constantly saying things like, “I can’t think of anything. I’m not inspired. It feels like too much pressure.“ Without realizing it, I became comfortable with the identity of not writing. I spend a majority of my day advising people on how to jumpstart their lives. Whether it is career, love, or spiritual life, we are guaranteed to get stuck somewhere along the journey. The goal is to remind yourself to jumpstart your “engine.” Today, I swore to myself that I would blog. I know that writing will help me forge a new writer’s identity, even if my first blogs don’t flow freely from my mind. The dominant voice in my head will no longer be about the perceived block. I will push through the resistance and connect with my creative voice, understanding that the wheels may be a bit rusty at first.
Perhaps you have an area of your life that is blocked. Here are some simple ideas to jumpstart key areas in our lives.
Career: Unfortunately, many people can identify with being out of work. I often counsel clients who are struggling to find employment. Lawyers, teachers, real estate agents and so many others have been affected in this economy. These are all qualified people who need to feel an identity of productiveness. I was recently working with a coaching client who came to me after having been out of work for over two years. She was in her mid 30’s and had been laid off from a six-figure salary job in finance. “This week, I want you to call small companies in your town and offer to work a day there for free.” “What? Why on earth would I do that? Can’t you just give me an affirmation to help manifest a paying job?”
My client was pretty aggravated by this suggestion. Let me explain my process. If you are out of work, or even if your business is slow, your subconscious mind gets comfortable with an identity of lack. You start thinking of yourself as an unemployed person. You process it with your friends, family and in this case your coach. “I am out of work” repeats itself in your head, and this stagnant energy becomes a self-fulfilling manifestation. We have to shift that energy and get it moving. There are so many ways to feel productive during your day. Call your local soup kitchen and volunteer. Offer your services to a small business or non-profit organization for a short time. The goal here is to end the day thinking I worked today. If someone asks what you did today, the response will change from a demoralizing “nothing” to “I worked.” This will powerfully change the energy of your identity, and will help you to manifest work. At every job interview, the interviewer asks what have you been up to for the past two years. Your response will shift to a more positive place, because you will have been keeping busy and helping others at the same time. I have used this technique with my unemployed clients and have received an overwhelmingly positive response.
Romance: I recently had dinner at our friend Sharon’s house. Sharon was giving us details on her new adventures in online dating. She’s never had a significant relationship and was reluctant to “waste time” with the wrong guys. We scanned some of the profiles of people who asked her out, and joked about some of the inappropriate guys who had emailed her. I could feel her desire to find a good partner for herself, but she consistently turned down every date request for one reason or another. When I asked why she did this, Sharon kept returning to the idea that she didn’t want to waste time with someone who didn’t have the potential to be her soul mate. “You just need to go to a bar and make out with a cute guy,” I offered.
She seemed a little thrown off by that advice, but allow me to explain what I mean. Sharon was identifying as a single woman who was unlucky in love, and just couldn’t find a soul mate. If you are in a dating slump, you need to let the Universe know that you are open to finding love. I’m not encouraging you to go have a one night stand, or to do something that makes you feel unsafe. But sometimes, to increase your dating energy you need to just jump in there. Have a date with a nice person, and flirt to experience some chemistry. Don’t expect him to be your instant soul mate, and don’t start planning your wedding after one nice evening together. In fact, it is more likely that you will not find a perfect match right away. The point here is to be open to love, so that you can attract it from the Universe. And as far as wasting time, I prefer to look at every bad date as an opportunity to learn what you don’t want in a relationship. After all, you will appreciate it that much more when you do meet the right person.
If you are experiencing a romantic block, try going out on a minimum of three dates next week. It can be through an online dating site, a blind date, or any other opportunity. Remember, you are simply getting the energy moving by shifting to a more “dateable” identity.
Fitness: I tend to go through phases of eating well and going to the gym every day. If I feel good as a result of a specific exercise, it can become part of my routine. I find a class that I like and a teacher who inspires me. The alarm clock rings and my entire morning is laid out. I finish my cup of coffee, drive to the gym and am greeted by my favorite teacher. I feel better about myself the more that I go. I’m stronger and I feel like I belong there. But as most of us experience, life happens. My gym changed their entire schedule of classes, and my favorite teacher isn’t available at the times that I like to go. So I stop going for a few weeks, and once again begin to identify with being a couch potato. It is the hardest thing in the world to start going again. I was overweight as a teen, and can easily take on that identity if I am not careful. Eventually, I commit to exercising every day for at least 15 minutes. I give myself permission to leave the gym after 15 minutes but I have to go. Once you step foot in the gym, your subconscious mind identifies as an active person. Even if you leave after a few minutes, you were there. No one will know how long you have worked out that day. Maybe the girl at the front desk notices, but who is she to judge?
The most successful people in any area of life will come across a block or stagnant energy. There is nothing wrong with taking a break or having some down time. Our goal is to make sure that the down time doesn’t become a crutch that limits our ability to create and be in alignment with the law of attraction. I invite you to scan your life right now and think about that goal list you have in your head. Feel free to comment below with an area that you need to improve. Seeing it in writing might be just the jumpstart that you need!
Posted by Dougall |
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