Until my drawing skills get better, this will do. 🙂
A lot of times when we feel stuck, we have a visual in mind, like a block, a wall, or a huge rock blocking our way. A fun way to get ourselves unstuck is to play with how we define the elements in this visual experience. In reality, there is no actual wall or boulder in our way; it is just a metaphor we use to describe our experience.
There are usually several elements in this picture, and we can play with how we define them:
🏃♂️ 1. Our definition of “us” (the character):
A lot of times we think we are much smaller than the boulder. Is that really true? We may realize that we are actually much taller and bigger, or that we are so small we can easily squeeze through the gaps.
🛣️ 2. Our definition of the “path”:
In this picture, we usually assume there is only one path. When we challenge that, we may discover that while this path is blocked, there is another one that seems much more doable, one we didn’t realize was there before.
🤝 3. Our definition of “who”:
A lot of times when we feel stuck, we imagine that in this picture it is only “I,” alone. We need to find the support, the relationships, the friendships, and the tools that can help us overcome this boulder.
☁️ 4. The picture itself, the world itself, including this rock:
Is this rock a real rock? Or we may find it is just a fluffy cloud we can walk through. And we may find that all the empty fields around us are still playgrounds we get to play in, with flowers we get to enjoy.
I find meditation, coaching, or even journaling are the best settings to do this kind of exploration. Hope you have fun playing with these definitions when you feel stuck.
If you’d like to explore what’s blocking your path in a safe, held space, feel free to visit mengchen.co. Your first conversation is free if we’re a good fit.