Yeah. That’s the doldrums. Even reading the definition is enough to make you feel dull, listless and depressed.

A lot of it going around

Have you noticed? In my circle of contacts, there seem to be two patterns. Some people (the minority) are soaring. They are happy, energized, jumping into new ventures with both feet, experiencing successes they once only dreamed of, and generally having one of the best times of their lives.

Some people (a larger number, which makes me wonder about what I’m attracting!), are not having a good time at all. Though they are trying to cling to hope, they are more frightened every day. Stuff that used to work isn’t working. Actions that used to make them feel good don’t have that effect any more. They are feeling a financial crunch, maybe at a time in their lives when they never expected to have such an experience. They are wondering if everything they ever believed in - like, say, the Law of Attraction - is just a big scam. They are confused, frustrated, depressed, and they can’t seem to shake it.

That’s the doldrums.

I can empathize. In fact, two months ago, I didn’t even want to talk about "doldrums" in public, because I was in them myself. Aside from the discomfort, anxiety, confusion, frustration and general snarkiness of the doldrums experience, I was also more than a tad embarrassed. After all, I teach people and guide people to higher states of awareness. I know techniques to clear away heavy energy in physical spaces and in our body, mind, emotions and spirits.

Even so, I could not lift myself out of it. I needed someone who could do for me what I do for other people.

After a bit (okay, a lot) of self-judgment and "physician heal thyself" thoughts, I let that go and mustered up the energy to tackle the biggest challenge in my life that I knew was holding me back. I also knew that the most obvious blatant problem or challenge was only a symptom of old gunk going on in my mind, my beliefs and habits that no longer served me well.

I stood in the middle of a room and said out loud to my higher self and whatever other entities might be listening, "Let this be released from my life in a way that has integrity and honours all the intentions that are involved."

Within a week, the opportunity to release arrived.

Yes, it’s great to take action or think positive thoughts to raise your vibration

If you’ve been reading "Soul Power for Entrepreneurs" for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of doing everything in our power to be attentive to the type of energy we feel and radiate. Just last week, I wrote about five ways to lift your vibration - an un-doldrumsy topic indeed.

See, I think you can indeed make yourself feel better.

But you know what?

If you’re in the doldrums, that is only a band-aid.

Yes, you might need to feel better, if only to have the energy to deal with things you have to deal with. Feeling better is good because - well, because it feels better!

But sooner or later, mood-altering actions and perky affirmations and "feeling the fear and doing it anyway" and "finding the opportunities in a troubled economy" just don’t cut it.

But here’s the thing

See, although I know it’s possible to lift our mood when we’re feeling down - and I highly recommend that - I’ve learned over the years that at some point we actually have to deal with the source of our down times.

That doesn’t mean you have to re-live ancient history or do endless analysis and introspection. In fact, that might even make things worse. But it does mean you have to face fears, face habits that don’t work any more, face unhealthy relationships or toxic environments, speak the unspeakable, and deal with the things in your life that are holding you back.

The more you resist that, the scarier it gets.
The more you resist, the longer the doldrums last.
The more you resist, the more the situation goes from being "unpleasant" or "a nuisance" to causing real damage. Stall long enough and the things you feared or dreaded pale in comparison to the bigger problems your stalling has created.

Ultimately, facing the underlying sources is the only true thing that will get us out of the doldrums.

One more thing

Facing real challenges is not for the faint of heart. In fact, about the only thing scarier than facing the things we dread is what happens if we don’t face those things.

But you don’t have to do this alone.

Yes, you create your own reality, and yes, you are the only person responsible for your happiness, your life and the degree of misery or joy in it.

But no, you don’t have to cope with everything alone.

There’s help. There are other people, other technology, other tools, other methods and - I believe - other dimensions waiting to be asked.

Once you choose to face the unfaceable, help comes in amazing forms, often from surprising places.

Wanna play?

I’m excited to say more about this in a free teleclass with Sandra Martini on Thursday, August 27 at 2 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Pacific. Click here to register.

I hope you’ll register for the call and join our conversation.

~ Bonnie Hutchinson

Bonnie Hutchinson, Soul Power Wisdom Inc., helps you tap into the power of your soul’s wisdom for a life and business of passion, purpose and prosperity. Visit www.SoulPowerWisdom.com for a free audio report, "7 Crucial Steps to Align Your Business and Your Soul."