It is winter. Maybe you have been stuck in the snow a time or two? Or maybe you have found your tires spinning on the ice? How about your growth plan and life, in general? Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels—trying to accelerate, but getting nowhere? Be assured, we all feel like this at times.
So, what do we do when our tires are spinning? We can hit the gas pedal and try accelerating, but we just find our tires spinning faster, and we end up getting stuck. No, when we find our wheels spinning, we a have a couple of techniques to utilize to get ourselves unstuck.
First thing we must do is slow down. It is time to pause—to relax and assess our situation. In our growth plan, this is served by our morning routine and journal time. Some might consider meditation. Others might also consider their exercise time as an opportunity to relax and regain traction.
Secondly, when our tires are spinning, we need to regain traction. Sand and Kitty Litter help in the snow and ice. In life, we consider the things that help us “get a grip”. Generally, when we have lost traction in life and feel as though our “wheels” are spinning, we have lost focus in one or more area of “well-centered fitness”—in the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and/or Social dimensions. Assessing our situation will help determine a course of action. I find there are numerous traction items in my emergency kit that I can use when I feel stuck. For me, this includes:
–my “15-minute check-in” with my wife,
–my Mastermind group,
–my exercise routine,
–my reading (I try to select books that will contribute to my growth and help apply traction in my life),
–my bible study,
–prayer and meditation, and, honestly,
–writing this blog.
Another approach to getting unstuck is to get a push. In life, this is calling upon our friends, family, and others to give us needed encouragement and guidance. We all need a push now and then. There is no shame in asking.
If you find your wheels spinning, you have a choice (we always have a choice). You can keep spinning, or you can make the conscious effort to regain your traction and go forward. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
“I had to stop driving my car for a while… the tires got dizzy.”—Steven Wright