Plateauing

Plateauing in the process of change.

I have experienced and you have experienced it.

Things are going well and then we hit a flat point of progress.

The typical  response to the plateau that  I have seen is to "do more" ,"add more", and "be more".

It makes sense,right?

Or does it?

You're climbing a mountain after learning, growing, acquiring skills, and carrying  more responsibility, motivation, and discipline. It  seems worth it because you're seeing your health improve, relationships improve, mental health improve, and  spiritual health improve.

Then you suddenly you're at a flat point. Things are not quite where they need to be and you have acquired new things, skills, tools that require maintenance and nurturing. If you don't continue them you would... well....fall back down the mountain.

Or would you?

So we add more stuff, more noise, more ideas, more skills, and suddenly we look like a pack mule climbing to our ascent.

What a conundrum when we realize we are getting more and more stressed out trying to achieve more?

Solution? I am just on this ride with you so I am no expert. But I have had some insight that may be appropriate.

Let's call it weeding before re-feeding.

When you feel stuck. Honestly look at what can be let go of before you add more

Do you really need to be learning a certain topic?

Do you really need to be following a certain diet or taking a certain nutritional supplement?

Do you really need to be involved with a certain activity or time commitment?

Are things you're doing and acquiring, part of a "means to a  means", or a "means to an end"?

Take a honest look  at  what is too much in your life and lighten the load.

Thank all that has brought you to this point and be grateful...not regretful. But without lightening part of the load ; I believe progress stops.

Do we know where we are going? What we are envisioning? What  it would look like when we get there? If  we  don't we are more likely to keep  chasing more and more and before we know it we have  more then we can manage and  the ascent gets flat and heavy and sometimes even slippery.

We all have different values of what to let go . Our personal vision of where we are going  is different from the next  person.  So thinking of this as  a personal experience and not something others should do will keep you from expecting others to be like you and believe things that you believe...which is really important in sustaining healthy relationships.

Imagine now being at the plateau and feeling a little lighter and being nimble enough to take the next step forward.  You have "weeded" waste and now you might be ready to "re-feed" with improved tools, skills, and  ideas. And perhaps  ready to climb out of the plateau

I  am breathing better already ....are you?