I glanced at my shampoo bottle while washing my hair this morning. The directions read “lather, rinse, repeat”. As I thought on this my literal mind said, ‘there is no escape clause’. How many times do I lather, rinse, repeat?
Thinking on the escape clause I was reminded of posts and stories from friends who participated in local Escape Rooms. I don’t know if you have these around you, but here they are everywhere.
As I understand it, you and your friends are locked in a room and must work together to find a way out. A way to escape.
Lather, rinse, repeat gets us into a rut. Apply that scenario to a rut you are in. You continue to do the same thing over and over again. You are going nowhere. The doors are all locked. You have to get unstuck.
From the Escape Room description, I find 2 points that are important in getting out of a rut.
- Take your friends with you. Don’t go it alone. It is easy when you get overwhelmed or frustrated to withdraw. That may add to the weight of the load you are carrying. Talk to someone. Call a friend. They can often present to you a perspective you had not considered. Which leads me to point #2.
- Find the clues. With multiple sets of eyes on the situation, there are many small clues that may be found. Clear your mind and expand your horizon.
To break the cycle of the rut you have to make a change. It may require a small change, perhaps looking in a different direction. It may require a big change. Even so, that big change will probably require a number of small changes. Break it down. Take one step at a time and move away from the rut.
It’s time to lather, rinse, and put the bottle down.
As a life coach, I help you break down that big change into smaller, manageable steps.