Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck? I have!

In fact, it happened a few weeks ago. It was no fun.

You know what I mean. Feeling like you just can’t find the energy, or the interest, or the oompf  to move toward something that’s important to you. Like your motor is stalled out.

It was triggered for me by returning to New England after being away from home for a couple of months. My husband and I had given ourselves the gift of spending two months in Mexico. We had a low-budget yet delightful opportunity to be in an environment that, for me, feeds my soul like none other. I worked remotely while there, but basking was my main priority. And bask I did!

When I got back to chilly snow-covered New England, I landed with a thud.

I lost all interest in what had previously been interesting to me. I had no energy and zest for my projects. I felt disconnected from everything and everybody except for my husband.

When I looked inside for some sign of life, it was like looking into an empty hole.

No inkling of a desire to move in any direction. No inspiration. No get-up-and-go. As a wonderful old coot I know named Ed puts it, “Your give-a-damn got broke.”

It was scary. It felt like a mini-crisis that had the potential to develop into a bigger one. The uncertainty of when or how it would end was probably the worst part.

Negative thoughts bumped around like bats in my brain.

“What’s wrong with me? What if I never feel excited about anything again? What if no purpose or meaning or creativity or interest ever makes itself felt again? Why can’t I just pick up where I left off and get going?” They haunted me relentlessly.

In this dull anxious state, I found myself looking out the window at the snow-covered ground with grey trees and no signs of life and thinking, “Remember, Jill: It looks like nothing is happening out there. Everything looks dead and lifeless, kind of like you feel right now. But underground, there is enormous life potential waiting for the right conditions to burst forth. And it will! It will all happen in its own time.”

Inspired by this insight from Mother Nature, I decided to do my best to back off from berating myself into taking action since it wasn’t helping anyway.

Instead, I did this:

• I took naps whenever I felt like it.
• I played pickleball when I could because it got me out of my head and into my body, and I couldn’t help it—it was fun!
• I read a novel, escaping into someone else’s world for a while.
• I allowed myself the joy of visiting with friends, which is something I love to do.
• I wrote in my journal to move the negative thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
• I told myself to trust that my energy would return of its own accord.
• I tried to be gentle with myself. And to wait patiently.

What really helped most, though, was reaching out.

All of these things were helpful. But what helped most was the support of others when I took the risk of being vulnerable and sharing what I was going through.

My husband was kind and patient and reassured me that this was just an ebb time. He was very comforting.

I also confided in my coaching buddy, Amy. She and I have known one another for a year, supporting each other in the life coach training program where we met. The program teaches how to support people to bring their visions into reality and to deal with obstacles that get in the way.

I happened to be a perfect case example at that moment!

Amy listened receptively, gave me plenty of room to be in the struggle, reminded me that my experience made perfect sense, and offered me a coaching session to support me in clearing out the fog that had descended, covering my energy for what was important to me. We made a plan to meet later in the week.

Just having the experience of being heard and seen and validated with an offer to explore what I needed brought about a shift in my “stuckness.” My energy started to return. I began to come to life in the ways that are important to me.

Of course, then the coaching session completed the process. After that, my engine restarted fully, and I was on my way again!

What’s my takeaway from this experience?

You can’t force the creative life potential that is brewing underground to move any faster than it is ready to move. There are ebb times and flow times, and both are absolutely essential for the creative process. Sometimes it seems like nothing is happening, but it is.

And when the going gets tough, reach out for support. It makes all the difference.