A dry spell and it's not about the weather!

Here is this week's idiom: 

A DRY SPELL.

I decided to write about this expression for several reasons. One is from hearing some of your feelings concerning your personal progress in learning English. Another is when I think of the period of time between the sessions or classes, five months!! Then, there's also the lack of opportunities to communicate in English because of your surroundings. There might be more but I cannot think of any right now! I also base some of my reflexions on my personal experience on reaching my goals, one of them being 'weight loss' or getting healthier. 

We all have our DRY SPELLS.

A dry spell is a period of time when progress comes to a grinding halt.  If you're trying to lose weight, for example, it may be that, despite your best efforts, the scale just won't budge.  Or, if you're trying to get a job done and you are having to depend on others and they are just not there for you! Ring a bell?  During this period, you're likely to feel frustrated and discouraged.  And, as a result, it's common to do one of two things - try harder (to no avail) or give up.  This is also the time when self-doubt rears its annoying head.

During a dry spell, you'll probably begin to question yourself and your goals. And you might even start criticizing and judging the methods. You might be thinking,  " Why should I work so hard, it's not working!" Or " I have put a lot of effort and I cannot really see any results", then you start questioning your learning strategies.  Or, if you're trying to lose weight like me, you may lose your motivation and go back to the erroneous belief that your stalled progress is related to a lack of discipline. 

Your greatest challenge during a dry spell is to be patient - to sit back, take a deep breath, reevaluate the situation, and know that despite what appears to be "the end of the road," over the horizon is a path that will lead where you most need to go. Sometimes a dry spell is simply a challenge to maintain your motivation.  We need to trust that all is happening as it should even when we can't yet see results.  Other times it may be that we need to loosen our grip and let go of the past - an old habit, an outdated belief, or a strategy that doesn't serve us anymore.  Sometimes this letting go is more tangible like ending an unsupportive relationship or friendship that no longer represents your current position in life. And other times it might be that you need to let go of an unrealistic expectation.  I realized this when I reached a weight loss plateau and I had to give up the fantasy that my body would never look like something that I once knew! Really!!  

The moral of this story is:  Don't lose hope!  A dry spell may be exactly what you need to re-evaluate your progress so you can redirect the course of your learning or the way you go about it! Use a dry spell as a catalyst for success! Then ask yourself:

What do I need to let go of in order to get back on track or keep on going?

Pay attention to what immediately comes to mind. Once you do, sit with this information for a while before taking action.  Then, proceed with a patient approach.  When you understand that dry spells are merely speed bumps on the road to success, you'll begin to see them as a positive sign - a reminder to make an assessment, to reevaluate your plans, and slowly shed your expectations to make way for the new!
You can also come and spend some time with me up North this summer!