Step Back, Breathe Deep, Begin Again

Lately, I've been feeling a little ... paralyzed.

Not in the dramatic sense - just quietly stuck. Caught in the swirl of too many thoughts, too many tabs open (in both my brain and my browser), and not enough clarity to move forward. Ideas are there. Passion is still there. But the energy? Scattered. The direction? Foggy.

Maybe you know this feeling too.

For me, it creeps in when I've been carrying to much - mentally, emotionally, and yes, even creatively. I find myself hesitating on things I normally do with ease. Overthinking. Starting and stopping. Staring at the same to-do list with a mix of guilt and overwhelm. 

But here's what I know; paralysis doesn't mean failure. It means I need to pause. A reset. A gentle recalibration - not a hustle harder mantra. 

So instead of spiraling deeper, I've bee practicing something else: refocusing with compassion. 

Here are a few gentle strategies I'm using to help myself regroup. Maybe they'll help you too, if you've been feeling a little stuck:

Start small. Then go smaller.

Forget the big, shiny action plan. In trying to understand my self-diagnosed ADHD brain, I've learned that sometimes the bravest thing I can do is make one clear decision. Send one email. Clear one space. Drink one glass of water and call it a win. It builds momentum - and right now momentum matters more than mastery.

Create before you consume.

This one's hard - but necessary. When I wake up and scroll, or listen to everyone else's ideas before my own, I get lost in other people's voices. So I'm making space each morning - even just 10 minutes - to write, dream, plan, or reflect before I open myself to the noise.

Move your body to move your mind.

Paralysis loves stillness. It feeds on inertia. Even a short walk - especially in nature - helps me clear mental clutter. It's not about fitness; it's about flow. Some of my best clarity has come from lacing up my shoes and letting my thoughts catch up to me on the path.

Revisit your *why.*

When I forget what I'm working toward, it all starts to feel like busywork. So, I go back to my *why.* I think of the women I serve. I picture their faces, their struggles, their breakthroughs. I remember that this helping women be their own kind of beautiful isn't just a business - it's legacy. And that always lights a spark. 

Declutter something physical.

There's something incredibly powerful about clearing out a drawer, a folder, or even your desktop. I did this last week, and the symbolic effect was real. It reminded me that I can create order. I can make decisions. I am capable of movement. 

Let it be enough.

We don't always need to do more. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is stop pushing. Rest. Breathe. Trust that clarity comes in stillness. I'm learning to give myself grace while I recalibrate - because growth doesn't always look like progress. Sometimes it looks like patience.

If you've been feeling adrift too, I want you to know this.:

You're not lazy.
You're not broken.
You're not behind.

You're human. And sometimes, the most beautiful chapters start with a pause. 

So today, I'm not starting over.
I'm starting from here - with softness, with intention, with one small brave step.

Will you join me?

 Copyright: Helene Oseen 2025