Something wasn’t working for me.
Basically, Life.
I was in a career quandary. My relationship with my lovely wife was a shambles. I think my kids were scared of me.
Life wasn’t working for me. I was stuck. Just being aware that life isn’t working was a big deal. I tried some counseling and that helped a little bit. I needed more – because I was really stuck.
Recognizing something had to change was a big deal for me. So I went on a retreat for men called The Crucible Project. Early in the weekend, I was challenged to go into the woods – and choose an animal name that represented where I was at in my journey.
The image that kept coming to my mind was that of a Red Salmon – desperately trying to get up river, but smacking it’s head on a concrete dam. Over and over he kept trying, and he kept smacking his head. That was me.
As the weekend progressed, I looked at the deep dark part of my soul, and did work that truly started a transformation in my life. As the weekend came to a close, we could pick a new animal name for ourselves.
While many men chose an entirely different animal name, I stuck with Red Salmon with a modifier. “Persevering Red Salmon.”
I felt the work I did on that initial Crucible Project provided a ladder. I still had to work and put in effort, but God gave me a ladder up the side of the dam of life to get where I need to go. I got coaching, counseling and met with small groups of men who could speak into my life.
How do I know that I have changed? Just ask my wife and kids.
What a relief it is to know that I have mission and purpose and that there is a way around the stuck-ness of life.
That is true for all of us. There is a way around being stuck.
Your way around is unique. I can help.