June 20, 2025

When the Wall Feels Permanent: How to Move Forward (Even When you feel hopeless) Why ‘start small’ feels impossible when you’re drowning: When burnout isn’t a phase but your reality, micro-actions need anchors. Discover how to turn your breath, reaching out with a single email, or 10 minutes of gentle exercise into rebellion against hopelessness. The Parable of Yu Gong (an foolish old man): An old man named Yu Gong lived trapped between two towering mountains. Every journey took days as he climbed their relentless slopes. One morning, he picked up a shovel and declared: “I will move these mountains, stone by stone. People mocked him, saying it’s impossible, he would never move the mountains in his lifetime. Yu Gong replied: “My sons will continue. Then their sons. The mountains cannot grow, but our resolve can.” The universe, moved by his unwavering spirit, separated the mountains apart. Why This Matters to You Right Now:Yu Gong wasn’t naïve. He knew the mountains were immovable in his lifetime. His power wasn’t in the size of his action—but in his refusal to surrender to despair.→ Sound familiar? Continue reading Part 3 of Unstuck: Rituals for the Weary: Building Structure That Doesn’t Feel Like a Cage The Science of the Shovel: Why Tiny Actions Rewire a Paralyzed Brain When you’re drowning in unemployment, illness, or isolation, your nervous system isn’t lazy—it’s overwhelmed. Here’s why Yu Gong’s “one shovel at a time” philosophy is backed by neuroscience: 🔬 The Neuroplasticity Revolution 💔 Why “Just Start!” or “Just Do it!” Feels so Impossible or even cruel When You’ve been stuck for an extented period of time If Your Mountain Is… Start With a “Shovel” (5% Action) Unemployment • Open your résumé file. Don’t edit—just stare at it for 60 seconds.• Write one skill you’re proud of on a sticky note.• Update just 1 line of your resume Crushing Fatigue(e.g., can’t workout) • Stand up & stretch your arms toward the ceiling and count to 10.• Walk to your mailbox & back (no further).• Do a 10 minutes walking exercise Lost Joy(e.g., abandoned music/art/reading) • Play or just listen to 30 seconds of a song you loved at 16.• Read one paragraph slowly in the morning. Isolation(e.g., havent been in touch with friends for a long time) • Scroll through old photos. Smile at one memory.• Text a friend: “Saw [thing] and thought of you, when are you free to have a quick chat?” The Bridge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Healing Yu Gong’s secret wasn’t his strength—it was his faith in the cumulative power of showing up. Modern therapy agrees: 🌱 3 Rituals to Turn Your “Shovel” into Sacred Action (Blending Somatic Therapy, Zen Buddhism & Compassion-Focused Science) Your Toolkit: When the Shovel Feels Heavy ❤️🩹 The Permission Slip Protocol (From Compassion-Focused Therapy) ✨ The “Done List” Altar Closing: The Universe is Listening In Yu Gong’s story, the gods didn’t move the mountains because he was strong—but because his commitment was absolute. Your “gods” are your own neurochemistry, your spirit, your ancestral resilience. They respond to consistency, not heroics. Your mountain isn’t your enemy. It’s your teacher. And your shovel?It’s your declaration that you’re still alive. Next: Part 3 – Rituals for the Weary: Building Structure That Doesn’t Feel Like a Cage “Struggling to keep going after starting? Part 3 reveals how to turn discipline into devotion.” → [Link] Why This Flow Works Blends evidence + soul: Every tool has therapeutic and spiritual roots. Myth → Science → Ritual: Uses a timeless story to validate the reader’s struggle, then grounds it in biology and actionable grace. Honors the depth of pain: Doesn’t trivialize suffering (“just do something small!”). Instead, frames tiny actions as spiritual defiance. More on Wellness