Sometimes You Just Need Some Space

A few days ago, I literally trapped myself in my room. I had my computer, barely ate, refused to leave the house, and obsessed over trying to articulate exactly what I do and the transformations I provide. I wanted the perfect words, the perfect message, and I wanted it NOW.

The result? Nothing. No clarity, no breakthrough. Just frustration and burnout.

Then something shifted. I decided to give it some space. And that made all the difference.

Why We Force When We Should Flow

We live in a culture of go, go, go. When something isn't working, our default is to try harder. We'll stare at the screen longer, beat ourselves up for not having answers yet, and tell ourselves we can't take a break until we have it all figured out.

But here's the truth: your brain doesn't work like that.

When you force something, you activate your brain's stress response, making it harder to access creativity, problem-solving, and intuition. There's a reason why your best ideas come in the shower, on walks, or right before bed – your brain needs space to process information.

My Breakthrough Moment

After days of grinding myself into the ground with no answers, I finally said "screw it" and stepped away. I spent the day doing things that had nothing to do with work. I went to an interactive game place with my friend, got ice cream, took a long walk, hit the gym, and actually ate and slept.

Within a few days, the clarity I had been forcing finally came to me. Through conversations with friends, through movement, through just living. I was able to not only articulate what I wanted to do but also get clear on the kind of life I wanted to build.

I realized I had been trying so hard to find the answer that I wasn't giving myself space to actually receive it.

How to Create Space When You're Stuck

If you're feeling stuck and overwhelmed, here are practical ways to create space and let clarity come naturally:

1. Literally step away from the problem. Shut the laptop, get out of your room, go somewhere that has nothing to do with work. Reconnect with who you are and what makes you feel excited.

2. Move your body. Go for a walk, hit the gym, dance in your kitchen. When you move, you shift your energy and ideas start to flow.

3. Do something that brings you joy. Hang out with a friend, try a fun activity, eat ice cream. Laughter and play literally rewire your brain to be more open to solutions.

4. Get proper sleep and nutrition. Sleep isn't just rest – it's when your brain processes information. If you're running on fumes, your ability to think clearly is already compromised.

5. Talk with someone you trust. Sometimes just saying things out loud helps. The right person can reflect back what you might not be seeing in yourself.

The Power of Trusting the Process

Creating space isn't a sign of failure – it's a sign of trusting yourself. When you trust that things will come together, they usually do. You don't have to figure it all out today. You don't have to force the answer.

Think of it like manifesting: it's not about creating a vision board and obsessing over it daily. It's about taking action steps, then stepping back and trusting that what you want is already on its way.

So if you're in a season of forcing it right now, ask yourself: How have I actually given myself space to step away and think clearly? If the answer is no, this is your sign to take a break.

Challenge yourself to take at least one intentional break today. Step away, breathe, and let the clarity come naturally. Sometimes you just need some space – and that space might be exactly what creates the breakthrough you've been forcing yourself to find.