Occasionally, we invite our Higher Self to guide us to our next steps and get … nothing. The connection is wide open, and we are more than ready to receive and act on guidance. But all we get is the energetic equivalent of elevator music – the sort we hear when we’re on hold with customer service. No direction, no sense of urgency, just … “wait.” It can be infuriating, maddening. We’ve become so accustomed to striving forward that just sitting back and enjoying ourselves feels highly dissatisfying. But sometimes, doing nothing is exactly what we need.
It’s easy to associate “creating” with “doing.” We have to remember that it is impossible for us to stop creating. We are always creating our experiences – not only through our actions, but through the energetic qualities we are embodying at any given time. Even if we are sitting on the couch watching television, we are still creating something. We are at all times broadcasting an energetic frequency, which determines what further experiences we will attract. If we are simply having fun and enjoying ourselves, it may look like we are doing “nothing.” We’re not accomplishing anything, we’re not getting work done. Energetically speaking, however, we are being highly productive! We are broadcasting fulfillment, abundance, and joy. Behind the scenes, the Universe is busily creating experiences for us that match this energetic resonance.
When we feel as if we are “on hold” – uninspired to take any kind of obviously productive action – it is a reminder from our Higher Self to engage in conscious creation by embracing a positive state of being. We usually resist this seemingly passive way of creating for a few days. Our minds miss the activity, the drama and the stress of striving forward. We’re caught up in the illusion that only action produces results. We may struggle against our lack of inspiration, and try to force our progress. When we relax into this lull and accept that we are due for some “down time,” however, we often discover that, in spite of our seeming inactivity, a remarkable number of opportunities arise overnight. What we have been striving for without success may simply manifest itself into our lives with no additional effort on our part.
The time we spend “on hold” may be as short as a few days, or last several weeks. The more we flow within this state, the more obvious it will be when it is over. We will suddenly be called into inspired action. That action may look very different from what we’d been planning just a few weeks ago, before our Higher Self put all productivity “on hold.” And that is what these times of suspending action are really about. They allow us to hit the “reset” button on the spinning wheels of our mind and return to the inner wisdom that arises out of simply being.
What do you do when you feel as if you are “on hold?” Do you embrace this state, or struggle through it? Leave a comment and share!
Blessings,
Andrea
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Tagged with: Higher Self • inspiration • intuition
Filed under: Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose • How To Develop Your Intuition • Releasing Limiting Beliefs • Spiritual Development
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“Thank you for calling Heaven… If you know the extension of the party you wish to reach…”
Andrea, every time you use a technological metaphor I smile and know that we listen to so many of the same cosmic stations.
I love the wisdom that we tend to overly associate “creation” with “doing” — the confusion is complicated by the fact that we preach action as the key ingredient in the recipe. And the reminder that we never stop creating is extremely profound. Thoughts alone may not change your situation, but the shifts in perspective allow you to consider and act on options you never would have before.
There must be one our collective, community themes emerging as my last article was another one among my semi-rebellious Do Nothing prescriptions. I won’t pack my comments with links, but I’m referencing articles like The Art of Surrender, Be With What Is, and If Your Cup is Full, Stop Pouring… I feel one day I may look back and see this is a serious golden thread for me. I must confess, I find contributing this kind of counterweight extremely fulfilling.
Personally, I always struggle — kick, squirm, stomp… at first. Each time is an exercise in how quickly I can recognize the required state of mind and make the shift. The Universe gives me endless opportunities to practice delayed response.
When this comes up with clients, I often find that part of the reason this sense of dead air causes panic because they are usually completing a period of extreme expansion. They get into that groove of doing, moving, growing and it feels wonderful and then… sssssstatic. There’s probably a very good reason why you aren’t given More — you already possess something that has not been digested or requires a second look or a little more practice. Sometimes, in terms of spirit guides, they’ve already suggested what you need to consider — are you repeating the same questions? Have you had this conversation before?
If you run and run and run your computer long enough, even though it may feel like an interruption, sometimes a reboot is just the thing to allow more speed and efficiency.
My response to your articles is nearly always “Yeah! What she said!”
Slade
Hi Andrea,
“The time we spend “on hold†may be as short as a few days, or last several weeks. The more we flow within this state, the more obvious it will be when it is over.” I think I was on hold for about 7 years. Maybe 10. I just know that it took a long time to finally feel the movement. A tremendous amount of inner work was done during that time, but the outer, well, it did happen. It has only been in the past year that movement has occurred, and in the past 5 months, things have picked-up steam.
Just wanted to connect and share a bit. Nice post….
Andrea,
All I can say is “right on”! I have thought for so many years that accomplishing something has to do with action. Actually, I need to do nothing sometimes to just realize the inner richness that is there. Thank you for this.
Anita
This week, I feel like I am beginning to slip back into the flow. You told me a few weeks ago that it was ok to just wait. I can be very stubborn and like Slade, even rebellious sometimes. This time was less painful and less little girl throwing a tantrum. I just sat and waited, never easy for me before. Ideas are beginning to come to me so I know that the flow is opening.
Andrea – I know what you’re talking about here. It’s more of that conditioned thinking – learning how to be in the present moment even when it goes silent is where we want to be.
Another good one, Andrea, food for thought.
Blessings,
Slade – I just popped over to your blog to read your latest article. I had to laugh – are we on the same wavelength, or what?
Personally, I run around like a chicken with my head cut off for at least the first two days of my “lull.” Then I figure out that I’m not actually accomplishing anything and wind down pretty must. There’s a lot of my mind that objects … but oh well! I agree with you that these are often times of integration following massive expansion.
Tom – Wow! 7 – 10 years … I’m not sure we’re talking about the same kind of “hold.”
Amazing that you stayed present to your inner processes and are now experiencing the manifesting of those processes.
Anita – So true! We get distracted sometimes from all that’s available within when we are constantly focusing on outward action.
Patricia – I remember us talking about this! I’m glad that you honored this time of “holding.” Like I mention above, I’m not always particularly gracious about these periods myself! Sitting and waiting definitely isn’t my thing, either. But those ideas are going to be well worth the wait!
Pat – Yes, the silence can sometimes be a scary thing, right? So much easier to bury ourselves in noisy action and mental activity! Glad you brought that up – when inspiration goes silent, it can definitely take a lot of strength and focus to stay present!
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea, wow what a great post! I sent out the exact same question to the Universe just 2 weeks ago, and got totally frustrated with fuzzy answers that left me thinking “huh?”. I was just trying too hard for too long, and I was forced to surrender. It’s amazing to witness how things just fall into place when you just let the Universe take over the job! The day I decided to raise my white flag, I saw Slade’s latest blog post and I thought, “hmmm — interesting reply, thanks Universe!”. And then just as my ego self was about to lose its temper again last night, in came your post. What a lovely reminder Andrea. Thanks Universe!
After we moved to the UK, I felt like I was “on hold” for a good few months. It seemed like the physical move was followed up by a huge energetic shift, and it took me a while to process that. Nothing happened outwardly, but the inner change was significant. I wish I could say that I handled it all with aplomb and dignity, but I have to admit that there were periodic episodes of wailing and gnashing of teeth and shaking of fist before I surrendered
.
Do you have any advice for people who feel like they are on “hold” together but respond to it differently? One may realize that it is important to “go with the flow” and maintain that inner peace. While the other is in a “panic mode” and wants the other to join them in that state.
Great post. Action is important, but there are also times non-action is important.
I have a word for Slade (and everyone who may be having the same dilemma). His comment is very interesting, and I think it actually will be more appropriate if he left links to the articles he is talking about. It will be kind if he did that.
When I check comments on my own blog, I check all the links. And yes, there are spammers who leave unrelated links. I delete those links, or the whole comment itself. However, if the link is appropriate and adds value to the discussion, I’d be delighted to let the link show up in my comments.
Interaction is the whole point of Web 2.0 — trust what you have to offer is of value and people understand it.
I’m back from vacation!!! I even managed to only check my email once a day – for me, that’s a really significant achievement …. since we’re talking about being “on hold” and all …
Mags – Isn’t it amazing how big moves like those that happen physically can require some energetic “housekeeping” before we get to move forward some more? Good for you for surrendering … then again, we know resistance is basically useless, right?
Rose-Anne – I’m not sure about that scenario – two people energetically “on hold.” I think a panicky person would be even more panicked by the other’s laid-back attitude. I think, though, we have to allow everyone the dignity of their own reactions. If our partner needs to panic, then we have to allow this to be their own valid reaction, rather than trying to talk them out of it. Definitely tricky!
I think it can be even worse when one partner is in a state of productive inspiration, while the other is “on hold.” That can be frustrating for both – one is frustrated at not moving forward, the other things their partner should just suck it up and get moving! Staying tuned in to what is true for us is SO important. That way, we can set more appropriate boundaries, and we can tell our partner what it is that we need from them.
I’d love to know your own thoughts on this!
Akemi – I always welcome direct links to appropriate posts!
Blessings,
Andrea