I was talking to a friend the other day and he was asking me how I was doing. I’m very blessed with this relationship in that I can be very honest with him. I told him I was struggling, for real. We talked it over a little bit and I used a sports analogy that I really like and wanted to share.
The back story is that I have some projects that I want to start, but I have been procrastinating. I have two stories that I want to start and I just can’t find it in me to get it started. Cerebrally, I know that as soon as I start doing it, I will be energized and draw close to God and be better. Do I do it? Of course not. I choose to be miserable instead, because, ya know, that makes sense.
I think we have all had those moments where we know that if we just started, we would enjoy it. Overcoming that initial hurtle though, is a major source of frustration. This is where my analogy comes in. I compared it to basketball. There are those guys (Devin Booker is our guy right now) who shoot the ball…a lot. Sometimes, in a game, something will happen. They will just start throwing bricks. A smart baller will push in and get a close shot to “find the hoop” again. Getting that basket helps them remember what it feels like to have the ball go through the net, then like magic, every realigns and they start making shots again. I often yell fruitlessly at the screen, “now you remember what it feels like, DO IT AGAIN!!!”
This applied to be me because the weight of all the projects was causing a mental jam that I couldn’t clear out. I needed to get in and do something small that would remind me of the feeling that I love. I am preparing to teach a theology class next month and my outline needed to be paired down from 4 days to 2. Reworking my outline wasn’t a massive project. It was already done. I just had to rearrange it. This little bit of work got my creative juices going and reminded me how close I feel to God when I’m participating in creativity. I can’t say that I’m back at it 100%, but what I’m doing is using that little glimpse into what it will feel like to be back at it. I’m using that to remember and be motivated.
So, if you’re having a tough time getting a win, move in close and get an easy bucket. Then build on that.
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