Feeling Blah?

I have a bit of a confession to make. I’ve been struggling with getting this newsletter out for the past few weeks. I’ve wondered if I need to change things up. Would a hiatus help? But none of the questions I asked myself resulted in helpful answers. It was all just a bit blah.

Then today, a friend posted a New York Times article on Facebook. The article is by psychology professor Adam Grant who I discovered a few months ago. His monthly newsletter is often a source of interesting information and I appreciate the insights he shares from his work. I felt that way again today as he named the experience I’m having with my newsletter and with life in general.

Understanding how lucky, healthy, and safe my immediate family is, it’s all still a bit of a slog right now. And Dr. Grant not only reminded me today that am I not alone, he also explained my newly developed binge needlepoint behavior. And as always, naming something has power. Understanding what we are experiencing helps us find a way through the experience.

As a result, I’m letting myself write you this short note today and highly encouraging you to click through to read Dr. Grant’s article on the idea of languishing. If it doesn’t describe your experience, I’m willing to bet it describes the experience of someone you know.

Since the article references the concept of ‘flow’ as one way to cope with languishing, I’ve also included some links to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow. I hope you find both ideas helpful.

I end my newsletters and my emails with “Take care”. I don’t remember when or why I started that. But these days, I find it encompasses much that I think is important. More than ever we need to take care of ourselves as we take care of those around us. Whatever care looks like for you, I hope you find a way to bring that into your day today as one step back to flourishing.

Take care,

Gage

NYT Article and other Resources

“There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing”
“The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus – and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwAR3Vd3IKZ2Ty1AmZ46B-xwSpWE2gRty19h36G_yjDV3Dqf8Rpcn1mWI7G_w

Flow Resources  

“The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”

(Csikszentmihalyi, 1990).
https://positivepsychology.com/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-father-of-flow/

https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202