"There is the mud and the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus." —Nhat Hanh
Have you ever felt as though you’re running through mud?
Today, like many days recently, my husband left for a long run. He prefers trails over pavement for his 10-mile, marathon-training runs. When he started, the trail was snow-covered, but firm and predictable.
As temperatures warmed and the miles clicked off, each step brought him into a world softened and muddied by the snow’s surrender to spring.
The Colorado sun is always welcomed on cold days, but its intensity created an unexpected challenge for this run—the ground became soggy and undeniably slippery.
While I stayed warm and dry in the coziness of my office, I imagined the trail Shawn faced was very similar to the muddy path many of us step onto every day.
I’m not talking about the literal, earthy kind of mud that clings to your shoes after a rainstorm, but the metaphorical mud that life sometimes throws our way.
This mud can manifest as uncertainty about the future, a career that feels stagnant, or personal dreams that seem perpetually out of reach.
It’s the kind of mud that makes each step forward feel laborious and soul-sucking, leaving us questioning if we’re making any progress at all.
The muddled middle of a crossroads demands a decision…left, right, or straight ahead?
But we just can’t seem to pull ourselves out of the muck of self-doubt, fear, and overthinking.
Yet, it’s in these moments of struggle and uncertainty that we’re presented with an opportunity for profound growth.
Just as my husband adjusted his stride, his pace, and even his expectations when faced with a muddy trail, we too can learn to navigate the muddier paths of our lives with grace and resilience.
But how do we start?
First, it’s essential to acknowledge where you are. Just as a runner assesses the trail conditions and adapts, recognizing your own “muddy” circumstances is a step towards moving through them.
Ignoring the mud doesn’t make it disappear; it only makes it harder to clean off later.
Curiosity plays a pivotal role in this journey. Instead of asking why you’re stuck, what if you asked, “What can this mud teach me?”
This shift in perspective opens you up to learning from your challenges, rather than being defeated by them. It encourages you to look for opportunities for growth and fresh paths that you might have missed if you were only focused on the mud clinging to your shoes.
Life, much like a muddy trail, is unpredictable. It can change from solid ground to slippery slopes in an instant.
The key to navigating this terrain lies not in avoiding the mud, but in learning how to move through it with purpose and intention. It requires you to be adaptable, to adjust your plans, and sometimes, to slow down and tread carefully to avoid falling.
One actionable step to move through the mud is to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them. It allows you to observe your situation with kindness and curiosity, rather than judgment and frustration.
By being present in the moment, you can find stability even when the ground feels unsteady beneath you.
As you move through the muddier patches of your journey, remember that it’s okay to get a little dirty. And let’s face it…it’s unavoidable!
It’s all part of the process of moving forward, of growing, and ultimately, of reaching those clear, solid paths once again.
The mud might slow you down, but it also teaches you resilience, patience, and the strength you possess to overcome challenges.
So, lace up your shoes, embrace the mud, and take that next step forward.
An inspiring path is waiting ahead…and so are your dreams.
