You Can't Move a Mountain, But You Can Kick Rocks

“If I look back, I am lost.” – George R.R. Martin

To say what a few weeks it has been, is truly an understatement. It may feel like wherever we turn in recent weeks, the stressors of real life are upon us and hitting home for so many these days. Whether it's external stressors, loss of job, relationship changes, or an internal struggle you may be navigating or witnessing others navigate around you, it all can feel so heavy.

In the past few weeks, I cannot even count how many times I have heard someone say just those words, "The energy is so heavy right now." Maybe things internally and externally are okay, or all of it is not. Either way, what I do know is we all have literally just weathered a storm (or two), first Helene and now Milton if you live here in Florida. Not to mention that Helene impacted Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee in catastrophic ways.

While we often have great goals and intentions for specific accomplishments at the onset of a new year or new month, the universe at times has other plans. It can be challenging to see the lesson or glimmers of hope in the middle of it, but I promise you it is there, even in the eye of the storm, they are present. While we never may understand the why, this is often where we can find ourselves stuck, instead of moving through. So today, I hope to create a space for all these heavy emotions to help normalize them, but also make room for the glimmers of hope and gratitude to be seen, no matter how tiny they may be. All emotions do, can, and need to be felt, simultaneously. Our hope is to learn the art of releasing what no longer serves us, leaning into the here and the now, whatever that may be.

We often tend to categorize emotions into good or bad categories, negative or positive. But emotions are simply part of being human, and to experience joy, happiness and excitement, we must allow ourselves the opportunity to also feel and move through the darker and challenging ones such as fear, sadness, anger and resentment. I don't know about you, but it sure seems like a "mix bag" these days of all of the above and more of the heavier ones. But how do we master the art of not fixating on just the hard or challenging ones, allowing them all to be felt, seen and heard?

"You can’t move forward if you’re still hanging on." -Sue Fitzmaurice

I heard this statement yesterday, which inspired this blog, it's title, and the motivation to write the other night. You can't move mountains, but you can kick rocks. I related this phrase to the heavy emotions, like anger and frustration when I heard this. It made me think of those heavy, dark and stressful emotions as the "rocks." I need to identify it, feel it, sit with it, and release it, hence "kick rocks." We only need to feel it and acknowledge it, we don't need to set up shop and live there in the dark emotions. When we do this, we let in room and light for those glimmers to shine through. I don't know what about this resonated, but it felt empowering. For the first time in a few weeks, the energy felt a bit lighter.

This reminded me of the connection to community, which was the topic and theme I had wanted to explore in October months prior. Again, having no idea how true this connection to community would be as we all have collectively experienced and witnessed these hurricanes together. Being able to witness and experience those in our community working together, neighbors, colleagues and friends has been a glimmer in the storm which I find and hold gratitude for each day. That idea of one day at a time, starting with one small task or step is much more doable then trying to kick the entire mountain, I can kick rocks and I can do that one at a time. Then if I am doing that alongside my community, we move that mountain together, one rock at a time.

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." -Henry Ford

Many of you have also I am sure heard the terms "hurricane fatigue" or "disaster fatigue" floating around on the news and social media over the past few days. While this is not a diagnosis, this is a natural response as our bodies begin to come out of fight or flight, no longer operating on adrenaline. So, fatigue, increased anxiety and fear, uncertainty, mood swings or even feeling numb to it all are often common. Remember, it is okay, we are all experiencing the release of the stress of evacuating, cleaning up our homes or places of work or also helping our loved ones salvage what they have left after the storm, so these feelings and experiences are normal.

The key for us ALL right now is making the time for self-care and giving ourselves some grace as well as others. Some ideas may be trying to do some moderate exercise, going to bed early, limiting time watching distressing news or limiting time on social media, and making time to connect with family or friends. Even deep breathing and meditation, just for a few minutes can help reset our nervous system and get back to a grounded, calm state. Remember many of us have been operating in fight or flight for maybe even a few weeks now, it's trying to help our bodies and brains reset, so we can face the small steps each day. Also, it is okay to seek help as well if it all seems too much. You are not alone. Reach out to The Disaster Distress Helpline, 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990. Also text, call or chat online with someone from The National Crisis Hotline by dialing 988. Reach out, as help is here and you're not alone.

“We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.” – Cicero

So, if you're feeling off still this week, feeling the heavier emotions as you are getting back to some of those everyday things, it's okay, it's normal and you're not feeling it alone. Feel it, release it and do something intentional to take care of you today. Also, keep focused on the small tasks and steps, "the rocks." These are manageable.

I don't know about you, but darn-it, YES, I can kick rocks! Kicking rocks seems doable today, trying to move the mountain of the storms we have all recently faced is impossible alone. But the glimmer and gratitude I see and feel when reflecting on this idea of kicking rocks, "When we kick rocks and keep moving forward and through, we do break things down and move mountains together."

So, what "rocks" are you kicking today?

“A community that is engaged and working together can be a powerful force.” – Idowu Koyenikan

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About Grateful Never Relapses

Welcome to a community where the belief and mindset is one in which recovery is possible for everyone! We believe that through gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness of all that is around us and within us, recovery is possible. When you shift your awareness to come from a place of gratitude, even in the most challenging or darkest of times, Grateful NEVER Relapses! The hope for this forum is to offer a brave and safe space to embrace your recovery journey with gratitude. Whatever you may be healing from, we hope you find solace here. We plan to share useful resources and tools to help you embody gratitude into your daily life. While we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, we hope you are able to share in the power of gratitude in your own healing journey and realize the doors it may open and the walls it may take down, while recognizing and embracing the power of gratitude within!

Grateful Never Relapses ®

By: Laura Anne Pasker, LCPC, LMHC, CCTP, Owner & Clinician at Clarity Counseling Solutions, LLC and Chief Gratitude Gangster at Grateful Never Relapses