“When we feel stuck, going nowhere, even starting to slip backward, we may actually be backing up to get a running start.” – Dan Millman
When I read that, I pictured a sprinter.
He doesn’t begin with his feet already moving. He backs into the blocks. He settles. He plants his feet. His muscles tense. Then, when the gun fires, he launches.
From a distance, it almost looks like he’s gone backwards before going forwards.
Life can feel like that too.
There are times when it seems like we’re losing ground. Projects stall. Motivation fades. Plans shift, and progress appears to have stopped.
But perhaps what looks like retreat is really preparation.
Perhaps the setback is setting us up.
Perhaps the quiet time is building muscles we don’t yet realise we’ll need.
Perhaps the delay is sharpening our focus.
A sprinter without the blocks has nothing to push against. The resistance becomes the very thing that creates the launch.
So if you feel stuck right now, don’t assume the race is over.
Plant your feet. Gather yourself. Accept the tension.
Backing up isn’t always failure. Sometimes it’s simply how we prepare to move faster than before.
This Week’s Motivator
Notice where you’ve been telling yourself you’re going backwards.
Ask whether that’s actually true or whether you’re in the blocks.
The gun will go off. Be ready.
Prompt for the Week
- Where in your life are you interpreting ‘backing up’ as failure when it might actually be preparation?
- What would change if you trusted that the tension you’re feeling right now is part of the launch?
