This one thing always delays my progress

Hi everyone! Hope you all caught some sun recently. I did last week here in England, but now we’re back to two weeks of dull, rainy weather. Just like the weather, sometimes life can feel dreary too. It’s a thing, they term it “seasonal depression.” It’s when the weather leaves you with that feeling of wanting to do everything and nothing at the same time, but you just can’t muster the will. Sound familiar?

It doesn’t have to be completely related to the weather, right? We humans experience these lows. Sometimes, it’s like you’ve got your act together, all the energy, you’re working well, doing your stuff, and feeling great. Then something happens, and all that energy seems so far away. You’re in a rut, and it is beeraatiiing.

Ruts do suck, but...

“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” — Buddha

I think the reason varies. For me, it happens when I am sick or overworking, but the reasons are far more than we can consider: guilt, grief, betrayal, relationship issues, stress, burnout, loneliness, financial problems, lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, negative self-talk, unresolved trauma, job dissatisfaction, lack of social support, chronic illness, unrealistic expectations, lack of purpose, poor time management, major life changes and so much more. What are your reasons:

It’s a terrible feeling. You had a plan, you were on track, and now you’re not. Why? I used to think falling into a rut was due to a lack of mastery-a “skill issue.” But I’ve reframed my thinking.

“We only fall into ruts when we are doing well. The better you are doing, the more painful it is when the rut arrives. So, I see ruts as signs of growth.”

But I’m not ignorant of them. Each rut is a lesson. The key is not avoiding ruts but knowing how to bounce back quickly and effectively because ruts will keep coming.

We can learn

• I found that writing down my thoughts and feelings was incredibly beneficial. It helped me gain clarity and pinpoint exactly what was bothering me.
• I also realised the importance of scaling back. Instead of overwhelming myself with big goals, I started to scale down my goals, tasks, and to-do list in the moment. This approach relieved pressure and made progress feel more achievable.
• Exploring new communities and trying different activities injected fresh energy into my routine. It sparked creativity and helped me see things from new perspectives. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to reignite inspiration.
• Rather than sticking rigidly to routines, I learned to be kinder to myself on tough days. Flexibility became my ally — adjusting plans as needed and giving myself space when things felt overwhelming.
• Reflecting on what triggered those tough times and jotting down my thoughts helped me evolve personally. It’s incredible how a good read or a helpful resource, like “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?”, can provide that extra push.
• And hey, revisiting why I started in the first place? Reminding myself of my goals and what really drives me helped me find my passion again and stay focused. The iki-gai method is a good way to start.

Lastly, Reflecting on what triggered those tough times and jotting down my thoughts helped me evolve personally. It’s incredible how a good read or a helpful resource, like “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?”, can provide that extra push.

In navigating these experiences, I’ve come to appreciate ruts as learning experience and that adapting from setbacks — what I call “adaptive resilience” — is vital for personal growth and navigating life. Stay resilient and keep moving through the ruts.

Originally published as a newsletter https://leenewsletter.substack.com. with more resources, check it out, I have a weekly newsletter there too!