Surviving a “down” cycle? (Part Two)

Anyone who sustains long-term projects doesn’t stay motivated all the time. People just stay connected to why they started, even when the emotional charge goes down temporarily. Sometimes it helps to write down the reason we care and revisit it during low-energy phases and remind us that the work still matters even when the spark dims. 

During these times, it’s also helpful to break the mission into something small enough to succeed at today. 

This is understandable, because when we’re in a down cycle, the big picture can feel overwhelming and shrinking its scope is more likely to help us stay in motion without burning out. 

This could be illustrated by small actions like: 

• “I’ll make one phone call” 
• “I’ll write for ten minutes” 
• “I’ll fix one small thing in the house” 

Easy, small wins rebuild momentum faster than waiting for inspiration to return and can put us back on the rails. In addition, let’s never forget to reconnect with people who share our values as isolation amplifies discouragement but connection dissolves it. Even a short conversation with someone who knows how to deal well with “ups and downs” can reset our emotional compass. 

We don’t need a pep talk, just a reminder that we’re not carrying the world alone will suffice! In conclusion, we always need to keep the long view in mind, as any meaningful effort whether it’s personal, political, creative, or social experiences “seasons” like Growth, Plateau, Doubt and fortunately Renewal. 

A down cycle is often the precursor to the next insight or breakthrough, like the compost that feeds the next growing season. When we zoom out, the dip becomes only one part of the story, not the end of it. Lastly, sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is stop pushing for a moment. 

Rest isn’t quitting, it’s just maintenance for the part of us that keeps showing up. We can’t lose momentum by resting — we lose that momentum if we ignore the need to rest!