Planning, Vision, and Feeling Stuck
Have you ever noticed that sometimes the harder you try to think your way through a decision, the more stuck you become?
One of the things I love about Chinese medicine is that it recognizes something many of us experience but rarely talk about. Sometimes “stuck” isn’t just mental. It can feel physical too.
In Chinese medicine, spring is connected to the Liver and Gallbladder systems. While the Liver helps us create vision and direction, the Gallbladder is associated with action, courage, and decision-making.
When Gallbladder energy feels a little tangled, it can show up as:
• Procrastination
• Decision fatigue
• Feeling overwhelmed by too many choices
• Starting ten things and finishing none of them
• Jaw, neck, and shoulder tension
• Feeling emotionally “stuck” even when you know what you should do
The funny thing is that clarity often does not arrive from sitting and thinking harder.
It often arrives from movement.
Clarity comes from movement, not overthinking.
Try this simple practice this week:
The Journal + Walking Combo
- Set a timer for five minutes and write down everything circling in your head. Don’t organize it. Just unload it.
- Close the notebook.
- Take a 10 to 20 minute walk without trying to solve anything.
No podcasts. No emails. No multitasking.
Just let your body move.
It’s amazing how often our minds start working differently when our bodies stop being parked in a chair.
Even gentle movement like walking, Qigong, yoga, stretching, or simply stepping outside can shift stagnant energy.
