Stuck

"Ultimately in life, you take either action or you don't. All the talk, analyzing, insight, and dreams are only interesting ideas until you put them into action. The challenge is to find your fire, the energy of transformation, and use it to mobilize your intentions in a sustained, organized direction.
Fire creates the alchemy that mixes together your hopes, desires, and dreams and converts them into "I can, I will, and here's my plan." - If the Buddha Got Stuck: A Handbook for Change on a Spiritual Path

Have you ever been "stuck"? That is my current local - "stuck", and I've been here in "stuck" for a very long time. How do I find my way out of "stuck"? The above quote really struck a chord in me. I may have the fire one day, then the next day nothing. Very frustrating but at least I can see that pattern and work my way forward.

What tricks have you done to get yourselves out of the "stuck" rut?

Escaping the Grey

We are born equipped to experience a complex array of diverse emotions. Many of us, however, are uncomfortable confronting our most powerful emotions. We may shy away from delight and despair and deny life’s colors by retreating into a world of monotone grey. We may numb ourselves to what we are truly feeling. It’s easier to suppress our emotions than to deal with them, so we may momentarily turn to pleasures such as alcohol, food, sugar, shopping and too much television. We may even numb our hearts. While it’s normal to temporarily seek distractions as a means of coping with intense emotions, numbing yourself prevents you from confronting your issues and keeps you from ever finding resolution or peace. When you are numb, there is no pain or powerlessness, but there can also be no joy or healing.The activities that numb you may seem harmless or pleasurable, but using them to numb yourself diminishes the quality of your life. Numbing yourself so that you don’t have to feel intense emotions can often satisfy a surface need while blocking your awareness of a deeper need. You may find solace in food or shopping when what you really need is spiritual nourishment. The less you feel, the less alive you feel. Your feelings add vividness to your experiences and serve to connect you to the world around you. It is possible to disavow yourself of numbing behaviors a little at a time and once again taste life’s rich flavors. When you sense that you are engaging in a particular behavior simply to deaden your emotions, stop and ask yourself why. Examining the feelings that drive you to numb yourself can help you understand what is triggering your desire to emotionally fade out.With each numbing activity that you cut out of your life, you’ll find yourself being more aware and experiencing a greater emotionally acuity. Senses once shrouded by the fog of numbness become sharp and acute. Traumas and pain long hidden will emerge to the forefront of your consciousness and reveal themselves so that you can heal them. You’ll discover a deeper you—a self that is comfortable experiencing and working through intense emotions with courage and grace.
Source: DailyOm. com

Eskimo Wisdom

Lovely Nina at had this beautiful quote on her blog...I loved it so much, I thought I'd share it with you!

"perhaps, they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."-- Eskimo legend

With all the loved ones I've lost, it's comforting to imagine that not only are they still on my heart, but I am still on theirs.

Dreams

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." ~ Patrick Henry