My Encounter with Stagnation
A few months back I was out walking through nature when I came across a small puddle of still water squeezed perfectly between multiple rocks.
As I bent down, looking closer at the stagnant water that sat in the cool shaded part of the rock outcropping, something stood out.
What I saw was old stagnant water, so dirty I couldn’t see through it. Pine needles and leaves rested in the murky puddle of water that sat motionless.
That short observation of the still, stagnant water made me stop and think about life.
As we’ve all probably seen, where we find stagnant life, whether it’s water, plants, animals, or cells, it’s usually in the process of decay. Breaking down from it’s current self into that which can support more life in the future. Whether we are talking about trees becoming soil or the water which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
But what about the person, or people we know who gave up in life and chooses to sit in front of the tv daily, doing very little to grow?
This stagnant puddle of water held up a mirror for me to observe my own experience and made me ask this question which I would like to now ask you:
“What areas in your life are stagnant and could use more motion and energy?”
Identifying Stagnation in our Lives
In the same way that I discovered the small, murky puddle of water out in nature, you and I need to go on an exploration within our inner selves. It’s through this deeper exploration that we can find the stagnant areas within ourselves that could use more motion and energy.
As I began to take that dive into my inner self, I began the exploration of my emotions, the beliefs I had about who I believed I was and the areas in my life that I’ve allowed to become motionless and begin the decaying process.
There were a few places, and still are, within myself that could use more energy.
The places that held the majority of my stagnation in life were:
- Allowing debilitating thoughts to marinate in my consciousness
- Clinging onto set expectations and occurrences that were totally out of my control
- My unwillingness to admit I was wrong, which trapped me in a puddle of stubbornness
- Recognizing the relationships that have become stagnant and no longer support my vision of life
Think for a moment about your life.
What areas could use more motion and energy and less stagnation and stubbornness?
From Stagnation to Motion
There was a thought that blossomed from this introspection of stagnation that I haven’t forgotten. That thought was:
“What would happen if that stagnant puddle, my “mentor” for that day in the wilderness would’ve rejoined with the river that rushed down the hillside just over the slope?”
It was this question that made me realize that if there’s stagnation in nature and it rejoins with the motion and energy from which it’s from, then the stagnation ceases to exist. Instead that new flow of energy enables it to blossom into something completely different than stagnant, motionless life.
We can apply that same reasoning to our individual lives. We have the opportunity and ability to not only pinpoint the stagnant areas of our lives but reunite with the endless motion, the endless energy that flows through us.
In that conscious reunion, that rejoining with the Life within, those stagnant areas, the murky puddles, get washed over with the river of Life that is pulsing through us each moment of each day.
Identifying the areas of stagnation in our lives, then allowing those areas to transform into motion are an essential part in consciously creating our experience.
3 Key Ways to Replace Stagnation in Life with Motion
#1 – Pinpoint Stagnant Areas of Life – The greatest way for us to pinpoint the areas of stagnation in our lives is to spend time alone, without electronics, totally disconnected from our outer world, and fully tapped into the Essence of Life within. When you spend time in the peace and presence of yourself you can see, hear and know more.
In the quietness of my being, the greatest areas of stagnation in my life was my beliefs, my ideas about my future, destructive thoughts, mediocre jobs, toxic relationships, unhealthy environments and unrealistic goals. It was these, or the combination of these that nearly brought my life to a halt, constricting my growth.
#2 – Inject Stagnant Areas with Empowerment – After spending time in the presence of yourself, pinpointing the areas in your life that are motionless, now comes your time to inject those stagnant areas with energy. The greatest way to do that is to replace those stagnant areas within with things that bring empowerment, inspiration, and more specifically, things that make you live bigger and be better.
The greatest injection of empowerment I found is consciously realizing that my energy, efforts, and mission in life can transform not only my life but the life of another. Realizing this, you can see how you have no time for stagnation.
#3 – Remain in Motion – Anytime you find yourself, your life, your thoughts, or your energy start to slow down and become stagnant, know that it’s your responsibility to remain in motion.
Remaining connected to the incredible force of Life within you, recognizing your strengths and abilities as well as spending time with your inner Essence, you’ll begin to see that wherever you put your attention and energy, that area of life will grow.
Declaration to Remain in Motion
When you find yourself or your life start to stagnant, say this to yourself:
“I am Energy in motion and have the ability to direct this Energy through the product of my thoughts, choices and actions into whatever direction I desire. Recognizing this, I give thanks and know that I can create the life I want to live easily, peacefully and joyfully.”
Gratitude
Let’s stay in motion together. It is us, you and I, who can help another person (and ourselves) grow and become the best they can possibly be.
Thank you for spending a moment of your day here at Three Key Life.
You, your time and your energy is greatly appreciated.
Remain in motion.
Peace
Happiness
Compassion
Respect
Jeffon Seely