Being stuck can be difficult to deal with. I often think I “should” be able to keep moving through sheer will. But that is not only exhausting; it distracts me from what I could learn in a situation that is uncomfortable for me.
Last weekend, I watched the wonderful film The African Queen again. It’s a classic hero and heroine’s journey, set in Africa in World War I. Through a series of events, Charlie and Rose find themselves on Charlie’s boat, the African Queen, on a mission to sink a German gunboat on Lake Albert.
If you look at the story metaphorically, Rose represents our higher selves—our inner wisdom—that not only knows what to do, but is an inner catalyst calling us to make the journey we must make.
As in any hero’s journey, Charlie initially refuses the call. He’s like the part of ourselves that thinks of a dozen reasons why something “can’t work.” Yet each step of the way, Rose is there guiding him, helping him see possibilities, and most importantly, teaching him how to believe in himself again. He keeps pushing through his own doubts, moving toward the goal. Pushing through your own resistance builds resilience.
After struggling and failing to free the boat from a muddy marsh in the Bora River (which flows into Lake Albert), Charlie tells Rose he must be honest with her: they’re stuck. At this point, Charlie and Rose believe they have failed in their mission. But a bird’s-eye view reveals that the lake is just beyond the marsh. They are so close, but they can’t see it. Accepting where you are does not mean accepting you have to stay stuck forever. It simply helps free up your mental and emotional energy to rise up over the “mud” and view the possibilities available to you.
Learn the alchemy true human beings know. The moment you accept
what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open.
— Rumi
And it’s true. When you stop struggling, you are no longer focusing on what’s not working, but opening up a door for what will work.
While Charlie and Rose sleep on the boat, rain falls into the Bora River until the water lifts the boat out of the mud, over the marsh, and into the lake. They’re free from the muddy marsh, able to continue on their mission. Don’t forget providence. Don’t forget allies. And don’t forget how strong you really are.
When you’re feeling stuck, remember it’s just a pause in your journey.
Be curious about what a “bird’s eye view” can reveal about your situation.