My wheels are stuck.

Bogged down, full on mud, sunk down deep, stuck.

And quite honestly, I’m thankful it’s only the yucky, slimy, compact mud. Sometimes you get stalled in quicksand where everything is sinking faster than you anticipate and the more you struggle the faster you sink. Other times it can feel like a landslide where it all hits you at once and you’re down before you realize what barreled you over.

But for me, it’s mud that’s weighing me down. These dog days of summer have been hard. Raising littles has been hard. Feeling disconnected emotionally has been hard. Showing up and holding space for others has been hard.

When did everything get so heavy and thick?

I’m trying so hard to find that groove; that little grain of sand that will make my wheels gain traction and move. And yet, the only traction I feel is the back and forth motion of my wheels sinking deeper and deeper and I’m going nowhere fast.

What I need is a strong chain to pull me out of my funk and back onto solid ground. Sometimes a quick yank will do the trick and other times…we need the full tow.

I’m working through my tried and true methods and thought I’d share in the event they may serve you, too.

Communicate. Truly open up and share what is on your heart and being vulnerable and releasing what no longer serves you. God puts people in your life that have already learned a similar lesson that they can bestow upon you so that you can also learn from them.

Journal. Sometimes it’s really hard to crack open to someone else. Actually, a lot of times it’s hard to crack open to someone else. But when you put pen to paper and actually let Spirit speak through you and release it on paper? That’s healing. No one ever has to see it. One of my favorite things is to even the intention by burning the paper as a physical sign of release. I even say a prayer over it as I watch those ashes and smoke release as a symbol of my release.

Ground yourself. Go outside. Outstretch your arms and ground down to feel the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the grass, and the breeze on your face. Say a prayer as you soak in all the goodness of God’s work. Sometimes reconnecting with the earth is powerful enough to create a shift in momentum.

Pray. Ask for Divine guidance from above. So often we pray for others, as we feel selfish and determine they need it more than us. But God doesn’t discriminate; He wants what’s best for you, too. The trick is to be humble enough to ask and open enough to receive.

Meditate. Meaning, sit in your own stillness. Calm your mind of all the noise and chatter in your mind. Meditation doesn’t have to be all woo-woo with lit candles, soft music, and chanting. Meditation can be as simple as focusing in on your breath for three minutes. Just noticing it move in and out. Clearing your mind by releasing what no longer serves you on every exhale.

Read. Or listen to a podcast; watch a webinar or YouTube video. Get inspired by someone you admire, who you trust, and that will lift you out of that funk. Chances are, it will only take a tiny bit of creativity to get ideas flowing again.

All you need is a little bit of traction to keep you going. Find what works for you and when in doubt, keep repeating until you’re back on solid ground again.