Letting the Sediment Settle

When it comes to television, there is nothing that has the potential to steal my time faster than a good reality documentary series. I am fascinated by the ways that others experience life and navigate the world. I love when a series allows me to get to know people and spend a little time walking in their shoes.

One series that I can quickly get re-addicted to is called Gold Rush. Through the show, we enter the lives of men and women who are in search of finite particles of gold. Their work is physically demanding, but if they are successful, the reward can be life-changing.

There have been several spin-offs to this show that have caught my attention, and one of them focuses on a group of miners who are seeking gold under the white-water rapids of a raging river. The list of challenges in this scenario are lengthy. One ever-present obstacle is the fact that it is very difficult to spot gold when the force of the water is constantly stirring up the sediment. In these moments, the mirky water won’t allow a miner can’t see their hand in front of their own face, let alone see the small flecks of gold among the rocks in the riverbed.

My challenging moments in life feel a lot like that of the miners; when my life becomes too chaotic it stirs everything up and I can’t see what is right in front of me.

Two years ago, I notice the chaos. In response, I went to Florida for five weeks for my first “soul-cation.” I was more productive during that time than I was the entire rest of the year. My days weren’t filled with menial tasks like emails, invoices, and expense reports. Instead, my time was consumed with writing new blogs, designing new workshops, and creating new keynotes presentations. My soul-cation was the space I need to be able to do the deep work that I find life-giving.

Last November, when I returned to Florida for soul-cation #2, I arrived feeling excited about all the magic that was about to happen. When I woke up on the first morning I grabbed my laptop, walked out to my balcony which overlooked the ocean, and I sat there waiting for the magic, but nothing happened. Day two was the same. I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t producing deep and meaningful work. I had to pause to figure out why I was struggling to be creative. I finally realized that I needed to let the sediment of my chaotic life settle so I could clearly see the gold that was in front of me.

So, I sat. I was still. I meditated and went for long walks. I waited. I let it all settle. And then I woke up on day five and I discovered the gold I had been seeking. Lesson learned, before we can find the gold, we must let the sediment settle.

So maybe this week, month, or year of your life has been chaotic or unpredictable. Maybe COVID has stirred up all kinds of unwanted feelings and emotions. Maybe you want to do the deep work, but it just isn’t happening for you. I believe you must find a way to let it all settle. Too often we want the good stuff — the gold — to rise to the surface. But the fact is, gold weighs more than rock, and the same truth same applies to our own lives. The good stuff is there, but it can be hard to see amidst the chaos. We need to let things settle so we can see the gold at the bottom of our lives. It is called deep work because we must go deep to discover it.

This is challenging for high-performing people who feel the pressure to produce gold on demand every single day. Too often we believe that we can live in chaos and still see the gold. I now believe that just isn’t possible.

In a fast-paced, instant gratification culture, the waiting can be painful. But my personal experience has taught me that when I let the sediment of my life settle, I rediscover the person I’ve been all along. And trust me, every single time it feels like I just discovered gold.

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