Jun 11

It’s Not All Cake

In the past week or so, I’ve started and deleted new entries at least four times. Each time I’ve felt a little more pressure to write one - but nothing important or inspiring was coming - so I just deleted each one and hoped for inspiration tomorrow.

Alas, none came. If inspiration came before this post, it came in the form of the truth; I have been grinding it out for the past couple weeks. I should write about that.

I was not feeling creative. I didn’t feel all that motivated. I didn’t make my bed. A forgot to close my bedroom door and a client walked by on the way from the lounge to the guest bathroom. I apologized. “I already saw. It’s okay, now I know you’re not perfect,” she said. The secret is out: I have the full range of human experience just like everyone else.

Last week, I was not that productive, either. I attended several “networking” events. I talked a lot with a lot of people. The events were nice. A couple of the people are on the friendship path with me. At times it was work, though, like I really would have preferred to be laying on the beach with a book, quietly reading and hearing the waves.

What’s the point here? The way I see it, sometimes we just grind it out. Sometimes there is no bounce in our steps. Sometimes we go through the motions with a little less animation than we would like. Sometimes it’s tough doing the work on our businesses and our lives.

And here’s the bigger point: Keep going. The Buddhist knows all things are impermanent. This, too, shall pass. I stayed in the game. I stayed engaged in important friendships. I went to the events. I networked. I endured several surprise obstacles. The headwinds seemed strong. I got as much rest as I could, in spite of not sleeping well. And I kept my head down and kept going.

Today I can tell the mood has shifted. The slowness I felt in the past week or two has changed. I have a busy day planned and tomorrow is even more so. I notice I have more enthusiasm.

We don’t get endless sunny days, folks. I don’t, you don’t, your partner doesn’t, your parents and kids don’t. Neither do your employees. Nope - the hard charging got-the-world-by-the-b*lls businessman or woman does not get to escape the human experience - sorry.

We all get fogged in from time to time. It is normal, even when you’re a high-flying, going-at-300% successful professional. It will pass; keep going. I don’t mean drive blindly and dangerously forward and ignore it completely; I mean acknowledge it as a low energy period and keep going. Stay in the game. Remain engaged. Keep reaching people. Do what is required and know the bright days and good moods will return, as they have many, many times before. Moods are like weather fronts that come and go. Some are warm and sunny with gentle breezes and some are storms that rock our worlds. And, they come and go. If you find your fog lingers longer than normal, talk with a psychotherapist and your doctor. You may benefit from their help.

I’m off to make my bed and get some more things done. I’ll be back next week.

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