"In the end, we are still the same un-flee-able we", "cut and run instead of did the work", just wow, wow, wow, Substackers are just piercing my soul 😭, I've been doing this all my life and I want to change this in Chapter 39, I am currently doing the work instead of running but I have incurred some losses as a result of my self-sabotage but the only way is up from here 🙏
Thank you for articulating this in such a kind way while still retaining all the power and potency of the message. I have a situation in my life right now that this definitely applies to. As soon as I read your essay I could feel in my body recognition. Your words have somehow freed me from the shame I might have felt about that and instead excited me to focus on all the elements of the situation I can control (rather than those I can’t) and begin to explore creatively what I might do differently.
Brilliant! This is just what I needed to read today. I, and so many I know, are stuck right now perhaps being called to look inward and see an evolutionary journey of love, to fully feel the intense heat building and burning up what isn't true, and courageously continue on my unique, and collective, hero's journey. So...I'm realizing, if it's truly not appropriate to blow my life up, then I'm going to refocus on my inner power, and curiously see how I can better, more lovingly, show up today. ☮️⭐️😎
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. In the past I have bolted, but this time I’m at least trying to work with what I have , eliminate the exhaustion and see the simplicity I’m left with. I’m also giving major decisions time, months even in a phased approach to check they are the right thing
I find it's really a dance, sometimes exiting the move, but I've also found more ease in the experience when I explore what's underneath the impulse in a more intentional way, Lisa.
You’ve just articulated something that has been on my mind all weekend, but more carefully and compassionately. I’m struggling with burnout and a professional fit that isn’t great. However, my fantasies of direction change are simplistic. I’m aware that there’s a high chance of the change leading to where I started unless I do some internal work first; that work will almost certainly also reduce the pain I’m feeling now.
I feel that pain - burnout and professional fit - Anna. Have woven in and out of that dance many times, even when the work is something of my own creation. Hope there's more lightness coming soon.
WOW, I needed this. Abounding gratitude, JF, that I walk this path with you and that you are are strong, compassionate, and smart enough to articulate this so beautifully. I'm here. I've acknowledged this, and I've been journaling on it .... albeit in a more round-about way. This article confirms it's manageable, and I thank you for the prompts to succeed in it.
Excellent reflection. I have self-sabotaged so many times. Love this self-inquiry prompt: 'What if, instead of checking out and subconsciously piling on, we did what we could to make it, and us, as good as we could be, before considering the possibility of leaving it all behind.' It takes a lifetime of asking and reaching. And in the end, we still won't have the answers. But we do the work anyway. Anything less is selling our life short. Thank you for this new perspective. 🙏❤️
Just what I needed to hear and consider today. I won't go into detail, but I do have a situation where I'm tempted to go nuclear. Based on your advice, its been good to consider how I can make things better and not blow things up.
The universe speaks to me through podcasts like Sparked and The Gool Life Project. Now through Awake at the Wheel. As is often the case I am left motivated to improve what has been an otherwise floundering existence. (Although arguably a positive one.) The consistent yet varied message to take risks, follow the passion and more specifically do so in a measured and methodical way is what keeps me coming back to listen and more importantly to action. It is a testament to the power of the internet, podcasts and the conduits like this forum that lift people like myself to better lives. The true impact is never measurable. For those like myself that do benefit the best thing I have found is to pass the torch and inspire others. Again unmeasurable yet a true endorsement to the power we all have to make change, lift and inspire others that we all may benefit. Thank you Jonathan et al
Thanks for the kind words about the pods, Eric. It's so interesting how we can something feel this experience of simultaneous flounder and goodness at the same time. And love your awakening to the power of passing the torch and inspiring others.
Jonathan, thank you, you are so great at unpacking this brutally honest self heal/harm stuff. We know we have to do the work but the total shame of being burnt out and thus unenthusiastic juxtaposed with a mountain of inner work that, if done doesn’t guarantee to make it better is the human dilemma. My psychiatrist mostly says” just push through” or something like that. Ugh..Anyway thank you for sharing and examining this so deeply. 🙏🏻Really grateful for this piece of writing.
Thanks, Yolande. I think if we just approach ourselves, struggles, weirdness and humany, with compassion, live gets a bit lighter, even when it's hard.
What a great essay, Jonathan. This is the self-help contrarian in you, right? This is about finding the source of unease before designing a future doing what you do best with ease and grace? Is that the theme?
Ha, yes, Georgia. Hard to keep the contrarian down, but I try to let it out in an inclusive, compassionate way. Sometimes I succeed! And, yes, you've got it.
I needed to read this today. Been feeling close to nuclear. It’s an inconvenient truth you share. Inconvenient because a cut-and-run approach seems quick and clean and doing the work is slow and messy. I already know the path I want to (and eventually will) take. Just need to get my impatient, feisty part of me on board. Thank you!
"In the end, we are still the same un-flee-able we", "cut and run instead of did the work", just wow, wow, wow, Substackers are just piercing my soul 😭, I've been doing this all my life and I want to change this in Chapter 39, I am currently doing the work instead of running but I have incurred some losses as a result of my self-sabotage but the only way is up from here 🙏
We're all in this human experience together, Samantha. Glad this resonated.
Thank you for articulating this in such a kind way while still retaining all the power and potency of the message. I have a situation in my life right now that this definitely applies to. As soon as I read your essay I could feel in my body recognition. Your words have somehow freed me from the shame I might have felt about that and instead excited me to focus on all the elements of the situation I can control (rather than those I can’t) and begin to explore creatively what I might do differently.
So glad it landed, Sarah-Jane. Shame is such a weird side-car of life, none of us need to be living with.
I also felt that recognition as you put it, "body recognition". Good stuff!
Loved the reference to body recognition as well.
Brilliant! This is just what I needed to read today. I, and so many I know, are stuck right now perhaps being called to look inward and see an evolutionary journey of love, to fully feel the intense heat building and burning up what isn't true, and courageously continue on my unique, and collective, hero's journey. So...I'm realizing, if it's truly not appropriate to blow my life up, then I'm going to refocus on my inner power, and curiously see how I can better, more lovingly, show up today. ☮️⭐️😎
Love th notion of an "evolutionary journey of love," Suzi.
Awesome. Made a full page of notes. This speaks volumes to me, thank you for all it took to produce this. Grateful!!!
So glad it offered something to think about, Vicky.
I’m not the type to comment, generally, but I feel compelled to because this was such a useful and timely message for me. Thank you!
Emily, I'm so glad you found some of the ideas useful. Makes me smile!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. In the past I have bolted, but this time I’m at least trying to work with what I have , eliminate the exhaustion and see the simplicity I’m left with. I’m also giving major decisions time, months even in a phased approach to check they are the right thing
I find it's really a dance, sometimes exiting the move, but I've also found more ease in the experience when I explore what's underneath the impulse in a more intentional way, Lisa.
You’ve just articulated something that has been on my mind all weekend, but more carefully and compassionately. I’m struggling with burnout and a professional fit that isn’t great. However, my fantasies of direction change are simplistic. I’m aware that there’s a high chance of the change leading to where I started unless I do some internal work first; that work will almost certainly also reduce the pain I’m feeling now.
I feel that pain - burnout and professional fit - Anna. Have woven in and out of that dance many times, even when the work is something of my own creation. Hope there's more lightness coming soon.
Inner outer trip.
Eject or Pause Mobius strip.
Is the way out, in?
love the image of a mobius strip, Marisol.
WOW, I needed this. Abounding gratitude, JF, that I walk this path with you and that you are are strong, compassionate, and smart enough to articulate this so beautifully. I'm here. I've acknowledged this, and I've been journaling on it .... albeit in a more round-about way. This article confirms it's manageable, and I thank you for the prompts to succeed in it.
Excited for what the journaling reveals!
Excellent reflection. I have self-sabotaged so many times. Love this self-inquiry prompt: 'What if, instead of checking out and subconsciously piling on, we did what we could to make it, and us, as good as we could be, before considering the possibility of leaving it all behind.' It takes a lifetime of asking and reaching. And in the end, we still won't have the answers. But we do the work anyway. Anything less is selling our life short. Thank you for this new perspective. 🙏❤️
Same, same, Danni. We all learn from our experiences. Can't think our way through live, we just do and learn and grow.
Just what I needed to hear and consider today. I won't go into detail, but I do have a situation where I'm tempted to go nuclear. Based on your advice, its been good to consider how I can make things better and not blow things up.
Glad this resonated, Rod. I've taken both options, but also felt better when I spent more time sussing out what the deeper impulse was.
The universe speaks to me through podcasts like Sparked and The Gool Life Project. Now through Awake at the Wheel. As is often the case I am left motivated to improve what has been an otherwise floundering existence. (Although arguably a positive one.) The consistent yet varied message to take risks, follow the passion and more specifically do so in a measured and methodical way is what keeps me coming back to listen and more importantly to action. It is a testament to the power of the internet, podcasts and the conduits like this forum that lift people like myself to better lives. The true impact is never measurable. For those like myself that do benefit the best thing I have found is to pass the torch and inspire others. Again unmeasurable yet a true endorsement to the power we all have to make change, lift and inspire others that we all may benefit. Thank you Jonathan et al
Thanks for the kind words about the pods, Eric. It's so interesting how we can something feel this experience of simultaneous flounder and goodness at the same time. And love your awakening to the power of passing the torch and inspiring others.
Jonathan, thank you, you are so great at unpacking this brutally honest self heal/harm stuff. We know we have to do the work but the total shame of being burnt out and thus unenthusiastic juxtaposed with a mountain of inner work that, if done doesn’t guarantee to make it better is the human dilemma. My psychiatrist mostly says” just push through” or something like that. Ugh..Anyway thank you for sharing and examining this so deeply. 🙏🏻Really grateful for this piece of writing.
Thanks, Yolande. I think if we just approach ourselves, struggles, weirdness and humany, with compassion, live gets a bit lighter, even when it's hard.
What a great essay, Jonathan. This is the self-help contrarian in you, right? This is about finding the source of unease before designing a future doing what you do best with ease and grace? Is that the theme?
Ha, yes, Georgia. Hard to keep the contrarian down, but I try to let it out in an inclusive, compassionate way. Sometimes I succeed! And, yes, you've got it.
I needed to read this today. Been feeling close to nuclear. It’s an inconvenient truth you share. Inconvenient because a cut-and-run approach seems quick and clean and doing the work is slow and messy. I already know the path I want to (and eventually will) take. Just need to get my impatient, feisty part of me on board. Thank you!