The door was heavy and the knob was stuck. No matter what how I pulled or prodded, yanked or turned, nothing moved. In my frustration, I kicked the door hoping to channel my inner Chuck Norris and free me from the vintage walk-in closet I was stuck in.
Over and over I tried to free myself, but the more I pulled the handle, the less it moved. It was stuck.
Einstein said, Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The same is seen in nature. The spider, for example, weaves a web for prey. The more a bug tries to free itself from the web, the more tangled it becomes, making itself prone to death.
Sometimes in life, we act similarly. We pull, turn, yank, and kick in the stuck places of life because we feel the harder we try to escape, the more success we will find. But if you’ve tried doing the same thing over and over again without obtaining different results, you’re stuck. And insane.
I’ve felt like a door handle before. Deadlocked, immovable. No matter how I hard I worked at freeing myself, I couldn’t move. Stuck.
As in life, creativity, art, and communication have certain principles that pull you into stasis. Create, produce, create, produce, create, produce. But what happens when you can’t create? You can’t produce.
Tomorrow I’ll be speaking with Jasmine at Catalyst about the art of getting unstuck. The sooner acknowledge the truth of where we are stuck, the sooner we can address a plan to get around it. Like Joshua at the wall of Jericho, we shouldn’t try to pound down the impenetrable city walls with hammers and mallets. He simply had to trust that there was a way around the walls.
If you’re at Catalyst for the labs, I’d love to have you pop in for the session! But even if you’re not, I’d love to get your feedback on how you have personally gotten “unstuck” in certain areas of life. True learning is done in community, so feel free to chime in.
Congrats to the the winners of the giveaways! For the birthday giveaway, congrats to Cynde from Dallas, Texas. And seriously, your birthday wishes made me feel so loved! You guys kill me! 🙂 For the Freefall into Bread&Wine giveaway, Vonae Deyshawn from Palm Beach, Florida won the double pack of books! Congrats to Jackie [Whittier, CA], Lydia [Danville, KY], Unique [Los Angeles, CA], Sarah-Jane [London, UK], Kelsey [Kent, WA], Lauren [Orange, CA], Becca [Atlanta, GA], Diana [Washington, DC], and Lani [Alberta, Canada].
I love the analogy of being a door handle! Such a beautiful image! I’m guessing God is the key – we can only become unstuck with Him? Something I definitely need to embrace. Knowing is one thing, acting on it is another.
Knock ’em dead at Catalyst – will be praying for you. Love you.
I’m GOING TO STEAL THAT LINE! Love it.
What, ‘knock ’em dead at Catalyst’? I suppose it could catch on.
I love Suzanne’s comment about Christ being the “key”. I needed the reminder that I can’t do anything on my own.
And…. OMG! I am thrilled to be one of the winners for the book giveaway!! Just made my day!
WOOHOO! Love it. Thanks for your love.
I’d like to use the analogy of an old window. Have you ever tried to open a old window on a house that has not been prepped right? It was just painted over several times, to the point that it was painted shut?
That was me, growing up I struggled with weight issues and I added layers of paint till eventually I was stuck. I like to go big or go home, so the thought of all the changes I needed to do, kept me paraylized in fear and the labor was too great.
God showed me that instead of looking at the whole window, to focus on what was making my window stick. So I took a chisel and started one layer at a time, some layers needed a little elbow grease and some needed paint thinner. Then one day, there was a crack and I was able to open the window to a better me.
Its a continued battle , but I ensure I am keeping up with the maintaince 🙂 So heres to open windows and open doors!
Praying for you all, I’m bummed I lagged in getting sal registered for the conference and when I called it was already full….. Opps 🙁 I felt terrible, cuzz he even requested the time off, but we will enjoy the blessing of him being home with us..
Xoxox!
I love this. Great stuff! Thanks for your prayers 🙂 [I need them.]
I’ve been stuck before. Some days it feels like I”m stuck again. Love the analogy, and that is definitely one lab I’d love to sit in on. Good luck and lots of prayers for you both!!
Thanks, Juls! I appreciate your prayers 🙂
Woohoo! Your talk sounds fabulous!
I’ll be praying for your talk AND that you see yourself as God sees you-His flawless, desired bride-while you’re presenting. 🙂
Holla’! I love and covet your prayers 🙂
Great message Bianca!I am stuck&have been stuck for a while…..waiting on God to “unstuck”me!Wish I could hear you speak at Catalyst on the issue of being stuck!!!Can you please send a link or website to it???
I’ll keep on reading your blog(Even though I never seem to be lucky to win those giveways:)))
Love how your blog has drawn me closer to God.