Sooner or later we all find ourselves approaching the wall.
Whether at a blistering hurtle or a slow creep, as we draw closer we sense more than see its approach.
And in the face of our impending collision we ask ourselves:
Do I pull up?
Or push through?
Driven by deadlines, expectations, and pressure (both internal and external), it often feels impossible to pull up.
And yet, we can feel the inevitable destruction that lies behind the wall, should we choose to test it.
When faced with this decision, a good first step is to simply pause
Maybe for a week.
Maybe for a day
Maybe for just an hour.
Long enough to slow your heart rate, to look beyond your current predicament.
To remember how small you are in the grander scope of things.
Long enough to stop and observe the wonder contained in a leaf or a snowflake.
The power of the sun or the wind or the tide.
Long enough to sit and savour a cup of coffee, or a hearty meal, or a conversation with a friend.
Long enough to decenter and then recenter yourself, bringing a fresh perspective to the challenge at hand.
We might not always have the time and space to pause long enough to bring ourselves back to baseline.
But if we choose, we’re almost always able to slow down just enough to find another route around the wall.
Explore how to navigate a creative life that matters
This article originally appeared in my weekly Creative Wayfinding Newsletter. Each issue is the product of a week of work, and contains something not available for sale.
A fresh perspective, a shot of encouragement when you need it most, and maybe even some genuine wisdom from time to time.
Each week, we explore a different facet of the question “How do we navigate the wilds of creating work that matters?”
It’s something I’m proud to create and I’d be honoured to share it with you.
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