a tension between rest and productivity

Being aware of the type of season you’re in matters so you can give yourself the support you need to thrive in it.

I’ve been feeling a deep longing for action and momentum on my goals lately.  I have a lot of big dreams and goals for my life and my business.  But I’ve been needing to take things slower and give myself a lot of extra space lately due to some unexpected personal challenges. 

There is tension inside me as I need slowness and long for momentum.  It’s creating a bit of a “messy middle” place for me.
The tension comes from the desire to honor my ambition and humanity. 

“I’m choosing to see it as an invitation for self-care and lean into what I need.”

Rest is productive and necessary.  Compassion, acceptance, and space are necessary.  Those are beautiful gifts I give myself to honor my humanity.
AND
Bringing things to life, bravely expressing myself through creating and sharing, and going after the fulfilling goals I have requires action that lets me honor my ambition.

Going deeply into one or the other throws me off balance and creates a sense of longing for the other.  And if I’m out of balance for too long it becomes a messy middle challenge.

The messy middle can sink goals and dreams if you’re not aware of where you are and clear on what you want, need, and where you are going.

“The truth is the messy middle place will end and there will be another mountaintop view.”

Lately, there has been a lot of inner work and holding to what I know to be true as I move through this messy middle.  It isn’t a place I like.  I know how to slow down and take care of myself so I can navigate challenging places.  I’m grateful for that ability.  And I’d rather be elsewhere. 

Knowing you can navigate or withstand something, doesn’t mean you want to.  There’s something comforting about knowing you have the tools to “go through” something without actually going through it.

Yet you can’t escape the inevitability that those tools to navigate the deeper and more vulnerable places in life (whether related to the past, present, or future) will need to be used.

So I’m choosing to see it as an invitation for self-care and lean into what I need.

As we’re entering the final month of 2022, I’m reminding myself of and holding onto these things…

~a season doesn’t last forever

~you can be with all of your emotions without being consumed

~you are not alone and it all doesn’t depend upon you

~longings point to where you want to go next

~you are stronger than you might feel in this messy middle

~the progress of goals and dreams will come

~taking one small and intentional step after another will get you there

~where you “should” be isn’t a helpful place to look and will only sink you or keep you stuck

~actually bringing something to life is more important than the timeframe it takes to get you there

Do any of those resonate with you? 

If you created your own list what would be on it?

The truth is the messy middle place will end and there will be another mountaintop view. 

Goals will be achieved, things will be brought to life, and unfinished things will complete (one way or another).

Holding on to hope and confidence when your journey isn’t progressing or feels too rigorous isn’t easy, but so possible.

What do you truly need as you journey through this season?  I hope you will take some time to figure this out for yourself because you are worth it!

For me, support on my journey currently looks like some external support, a simplified goal list, and lots of grace and compassion as I’m navigating and taking time off for the rest of this year.

I’m feeling excited to give myself some space for what I need in the rest of 2022 and to gain clarity as I look at 2023.

One final thing, if you’re in you’re own messy middle and want to explore having some external support through coaching in 2023, send me an email at hello@latishaleppert.com to explore what this could look like for you.