What happens when your ambition bumps up against the reality of your limited resources—time, money, attention, focus, or cognitive bandwidth—or external constraints?

For the past four weeks, I’ve been navigating life without one of my ADHD medications, Reader.

The situation has thrown my normal energy rhythms into disarray, to say nothing of my focus, attention, and cognitive function.

It’s put a spotlight on a familiar inner conflict:

My optimistic (albeit often unrealistic) agenda is exceeded only by the size of my ambition: I have a big vision, strong purpose, and high desire to succeed.

On the other hand, I keep bumping up against some very hard limits regarding my current capacity or about what’s possible in any given time block, day, or week.

And it’s not just me.

This tension between big desire and hard limits is showing up for my clients, too.

For example, one client is eager to return to CrossFit after time away to heal from injuries. She loves the competitive nature of it but knows her body can no longer handle the same intensity it once could.

Her work is the inner work of respecting her body’s new limits when surrounded by peers whose bodies are in their prime.

Another client has been working on a home project that keeps getting stalled due to zoning regulations, administrative hurdles, and rising costs. Every time he gains some momentum, some new obstacle arises, leaving him questioning whether the project is even worth continuing.

Both of these examples reflect a common dynamic: a strong desire to push forward running into internal or external limits.

How Do You React When Your Desire Meets Constraints?

Often, the answer to this depends on whether you’ve anticipated the obstacles before hitting them.

Even if the obstacles are unexpected, recognizing the bigger pattern can make all the difference in how we respond.

The Value of Knowing What’s Coming

Think about planning a road trip. You’d probably check the traffic reports before setting out and look for any road closures or delays. If you can’t avoid the traffic, at least you’ll know what’s coming and plan accordingly.

In the same way, you likely check the weather forecast if you’re planning an outdoor event. If the forecast calls for rain, you might not cancel the event, but you’d be wise to plan an indoor venue as a contingency plan. If that’s not an option, at least you’ll bring an umbrella.

In life, there are seasons when the sun is shining and the roads are clear: things flow with ease.

And there are rainy seasons — times when we might struggle to get the car started or hit “traffic” on the way to our destination.

It helps to know what’s coming so you can prepare.

The Value of Knowing What’s Happening

Even if you didn’t see the storm coming, understanding what’s happening in the moment can provide a bigger-picture context for your experience.

My clients often tell me that simply having an explanation for their challenges helps them approach the moment with more awareness and less frustration.

Knowing that what you’re going through is just temporary—a season, not forever—can be a game-changer.

I’ve found that this can help me be more objective in how I meet the moment and myself.

For example, I’ve been able to meet myself with compassion when I hit my limits or my agenda gets derailed.

TBH, Reader, this is everything.

It is especially powerful for those of us with ADHD, as it helps break the cycle of self-blame and shame, freeing up the energy you need to take action.

So many times in the past when I hit my limits or my day hit a snag I’d get so lost in my anger and self-blame that I’d end up in a self-ruminating shame spiral.

That’s an awful place to be, and it’s so counter-productive.

The Current Weather System

My current predicament and the situations in which my clients find themselves are all reflected in the current “weather system.”

Although my own situation has been without precedent, the larger theme it offers was not completely unexpected.

I knew that this summer — and especially this pocket of time we are in right now — would likely bring challenges that would involve a situation where my ambition and drive bumped up against hard limits, even if I didn’t know exactly how this would show up.

I knew this in the same way that I know that in New York:

• July and August will be hot,
• late summer and early autumn bring hurricane season, and
• heading to the Hamptons from the city on a Friday afternoon is a date with sitting in traffic.

That’s because I knew what I call the “Astro-weather”: the energy that defines a particular quality of time when planets configure in certain alignments.

On a collective level, the alignments of this past week into next week have created an energetic “storm” that can result in a situation where our expanded desire bumps up against the hard limits of reality.

This past week on the blog I broke down the astrology of it all, in terms of the planets and their significations.

But you don’t need to know anything about that to feel the energy of this moment. Neither of my clients mentioned above knows anything about astrology, but they’re still feeling these energies.

The planets don’t create events. They mirror what is happening.

Another way to think about this is that the planetary alignments pull focus to themes that are often present but may be lurking under the surface.

When we know what’s happening, we are able to meet the moment and ourselves in ways that can be empowering rather than self-defeating.

The Revolutionary Nature of Acceptance

Rather than fighting the reality of the moment, I’ve been learning to accept it and give myself some grace.

Acceptance of the reality of our limitations doesn’t mean we are giving in. It means we aren’t fighting the reality of the moment.

This isn’t easy for someone with ADHD, and it’s been nothing short of revolutionary.

Going down the rabbit hole of blame and shame exacts a high cost in terms of energetic resources, which leaves us with little for actually taking action.

In the space created by acceptance, new ideas emerge.

When we stop fighting reality, we allow space for new ideas, insights, and approaches to emerge.

In the space created by self-compassion, forward movement becomes possible.

When we’re wrapped up in self-judgment, paralysis and procrastination inhibit action .

By finding self-compassion, I’ve been able to move forward. Even the smallest steps can create momentum.

In the space created by grace, support becomes possible.

By giving myself grace, I’ve empowered myself to identify, ask for, and receive the support I need.

I’ve found the courage to share my experience more publicly, which has helped both myself and others.

And I’m finding ways to navigate the obstacles.

The Power of Astrological Literacy

All of this has reinforced for me the power of having “astrological literacy.”

Just like you won’t get hit by every hurricane, not every planetary alignment will impact you.

Understanding the “astro-weather forecast” in the context of your own chart lets you see whether — and how — certain moments might impact you.

This is just one reason why I’m so passionate about my upcoming Practical Astrology course.

I want you to feel empowered to recognize your agency in the face of challenges, find self-compassion in difficult moments, and embrace grace through struggles.

3 Lessons I’m Learning

To be honest, Reader, I had planned to have already taught the first cohort of Practical Astrology before this bumpy stretch of time. But life doesn’t always follow our plans.

Here are 3 lessons I’m learning from this moment:

(1) We can’t always “power through” our limits.

Nor is it a good idea to try. Banging your head against a wall is a recipe for a headache. Instead, working within our limitations often leads to greater creativity.

(2) Working within constraints can help us build strength.

I do a deadlift drill where I pull the bar up against the safety bars on the squat rack. It can be a hard jolt, but ultimately, it helps to build strength.

In fact, all strength training is like this: pushing or pulling against a constraint.

The key is to find the right balance between pushing and not pushing. If we push too hard all the time we just end up exhausted and burned out.

(3) To build something lasting and sustainable takes time and patience.

Living in sync with the seasons teaches us that everything blooms in its time.

Nobody builds strength overnight. It takes time, consistency, patience, persistence, and moments of rest.

I’d love to hear what’s resonating with you from this, and how this dynamic is showing up in your life. Hit reply to start a conversation.

Xoxo

Renée

PS: You’re already on the VIP list for Practical Astrology, so you’ll be the first to know when doors open. If you have friends who would be interested in learning more, please send them to this link.

Weekly Round-Up from the blog

In case you didn’t know, I publish a daily blog. I realize it can be hard to keep up (trust me, it can be hard for me, too!) so here’s a round-up of what you missed this week. I’d love to hear what resonated with you.

​3 Ingredients to Cultivate Client Loyalty

I’ve spent my entire 20+ year career in client service and as a coach to people who work in service-based businesses. The basics of client service are obvious, but often overlooked. Here are three essential things to give your clients to foster client loyalty.

​5 Strategies I’m Using to Get Through My Day When ADHD Meds are Out of Stock

If you have ADHD, navigating life when you’re off your medication can be a huge challenge. Here are 5 strategies I’m using to help me get through my day while my medication is out of stock.

​7 Tips for Women with ADHD to Workout Consistently

Having a daily workout practice has been a crucial part of managing my ADHD, and a lifesaver when I’m without my ADHD meds. Here are 7 tips for ADHD women to workout consistently.

​7 Tips for a Workout That Will Energize You

Not all exercise is created equal. Although exercise generally can boost energy, sometimes exercise can be counter productive and drain energy. Here are 7 tips for a workout that will energize you.

​5 Tips to Stay the Course When You’re Hitting Your Limits

When your big vision and high drive to action keeps hitting the limits of your capacity in the moment, how do you stay the course without resorting to despair? Here are 5 tips for keeping going even when there’s heavy traffic.

​5 Ways to Navigate Obstacles on Your Path

It’s easy to get frustrated when we encounter limitations or obstacles in our path. Here are 5 tips for navigating those obstacles. Choose your own adventure.

​3 Positives of Mars Square Saturn

The astrology of the moment involves a hard aspect between Mars and Saturn, the two “malefic” planets. Mars/Saturn aspects can be exhausting, and test the limits of our frustration. They can also be helpful in a weird way. Here are 3 positive outcomes from this alignment.

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