4 Things to Remember When You’re In A Slump

It happens to us all. 

Those moments when everything seems great, life is good, and then wham…totally out of the blue everything starts falling apart.

Our sense of well being has been taken over by fiendish doubts, frustrations, things not going to plan and sometimes a a deep sense of the blues.

That’s been my state for this past week.  It’s true I’ve been drugged up to the eyeballs after surgery, which is a great excuse. But I’ve found myself in slumps before without the aid of drugs or other ancillary helpers.  And it doesn’t feel good, whatever the cause.

Truth be told it can be a pretty miserable state to be in but…like all feelings in life…it’s just a messenger.  So if this is happening in your world right now, it’s telling you something loud and clear…it’s time to refresh and renew.

Which is why I want to remind you of four key things when you’re stuck in a slump.

1. Switch up your head space

Consciously choosing to reformat your head space isn’t the easiest thing in the world. But there are times when you just need to make sure you have space to maneuver.   You need to be able to flip the switch and give yourself space to create, to renew your energy and motivation so you can realize the happiness you seek.

So I got right down to it.  I found an App appropriately called Headspace. An App which teaches mindfulness techniques.  I thought if it was good enough for Richard Branson, Fortune 500 Companies and whole football teams, it wasn’t going to do any harm. Plus there’s a free 10 day trial.

Currently I’m on day six and my head space is…well different. The racket that had been going on in my head is quieter and I’m back to living, learning and growing and accepting that discomfort and slumps are just a part of the magic of a life well lived and filled with growth.

2. Juggling Polarities

Life is full of polarities.

Polarities exist in our inner and outer worlds.

In the outer world for every up there’s a down, for every inner an outer and for every open a closed.

And we have within us polarities of energy. 

We have powers and vulnerabilities.  And living fully and richly is a balancing act between these two energies. 

You need them both.

If you’re encountering difficulties, or wallowing in a slump it’s in some way a reflection of your internal processes.   A disconnect from natures balance between power and vulnerability.

 In order to understand this balance, so you can use it to your benefit,  you need to be aware that your power affects the world around you and your vulnerability is how the world affects you.

Many people choose to focus their attention on power because it seems a stronger quality. But the truth is that…the magic of life can only be found when you embrace all your energies.

Whilst your power helps you accomplish goals and share your gifts and talents with the world,  without your vulnerability the door to receiving success, fulfillment and happiness remains firmly closed.

By recognizing slumps as part of nature’s awesome feedback system and using it as an opportunity to stay in touch with your vulnerabilities you set yourself up for receiving success in life.  You know what they say about lemons and lemonade.

3. Give up old stories

A slump is like any other obstacle.  It gets in the way only if you let it.  And every time you dwell on the stories of past slumps or experiences that didn’t go so well, you’re allowing the emotional baggage and energy from the past to be with you in the present.

Don’t keep punishing yourself with old tales of woe.

Too many people remember that they weren’t that good at school so now they believe their chances of success today must be limited.  Or someone had a rotten childhood and clearly will never find lasting happiness.

I say rubbish!

You’ll never know what story is possible for you until you create it. Fill yourself with the inspiration of others, the adversities many have overcome and make up your mind that you can do the same.

You deserve to be happy, you deserve to live a life that excites you. Don’t let your stories make you forget that.

Remember polarities. Everything that has a beginning has an ending.

4. Don’t deal in the currency of regret

We might not have a rewind or reset button in life. But we do have something equally powerful.

You don’t have to lose your chance for a happy future because of what you did yesterday.

So rather than look back and regret, look back and visualize something different. Visualizing is the reset button of the universe.  Much more powerful than anything man has ever made.

When you visualize something you trick your brain into thinking it has experienced it. Your subconscious mind believes everything you tell it…and it works in pictures and feelings.

So feel good about your imagined situation and help your mind support your new view of the world.  Choosing a positive idea from something that sucked taps into nature’s power to make over an old regret.

Even if the only positive idea you can come up with is that every step you’ve taken, or every choice you made, prepared the way for this moment, or a moment yet to come, you’ll no longer be at the mercy of regret.

Remember, the saddest thing you can think is “If only.”

So that’s what I’ve discovered. Now it’s your turn. What never fails to make you feel better?  What helps to boost your morale when you’ve hit a slump.  We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.  All ideas gratefully appreciated.  Let’s encourage one another where and when we can.

Encourage one another.

Love Elle

xoxo