Navigating Life’s Stagnant Waters
Hey Collective Crew, Shaun here. Stagnation. It’s a word that often conjures images of being stuck, of that “blah” feeling where days blur into an uninspired routine. On this week’s The Collective podcast, Chance and I were joined by military officer and entrepreneur Sean Menezes, and Green Beret turned coach Chris Lee, for a deep dive into this very human experience.
We explored what stagnation truly means, how it manifests in our personal and professional lives, the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs, and most importantly, how we can break free from its grip and rediscover flow, purpose, and growth.
This Week’s Flow Catalysts:
– Sean Menezes: Serving CANSOFCOM Officer, Photographer, Videographer, and Peer Leader
– Chris Lee: Former US Green Beret, now Coach, Author, and Speaker.
Key Insights on Overcoming Stagnation:
1. Defining Stagnation – More Than Just Still Water
The conversation kicked off with definitions. Chris likened stagnation to standing bodies of water or mud puddles – breeding grounds for disease and unhealthy habits, contrasting it with the life-giving flow of a river. I brought in the etymology, from the Latin stagnum (pool, swamp), highlighting how this evolved metaphorically to mean a lack of activity, development, or progress; a state of being uninspired or stuck. The consensus? It’s that feeling of being in a rut, on a treadmill, where days blend meaninglessly.
2. Stillness vs. Stagnation – A Crucial Distinction
Sean Menezes offered a powerful reframe: stagnant, murky water isn’t always negative. Sometimes, sitting in that discomfort, that stillness, is necessary for reflection. He beautifully described transforming that murky pond into a clear lake for introspection, a place to appreciate the journey and then attack new goals with renewed vigor. Chris Lee built on this, noting that stillness, like rest in a training regimen, is essential for growth and recovery; an intentional pause, unlike the passive drift of stagnation.
3. The “Swamp Stink” of Complacency & Autopilot
To reinforce the idea of complacency, I mentioned a story of moving through a chin deep pitch-black freezing swamp on Pathfinder course at zero dark thirty, the story helped kick off a conversation about autopilot. Let me set the stage… at this point in the course we were all so exhausted; it was constant iterations of just trying to survive the next task, problem, or kilometer. At that point, in that swamp, I was on autopilot, until I was suddenly jolted into full awareness by an unexpected obstacle (a Claymore mine had fallen off the rucksack of the Pathfinder candidate in front of me and the Claymore detonating wire had begun unspooling underwater as he was stealth patrolling through the swamp, the wire was now invisibly tangled around my feet and I had no idea what was starting to wrap around my jungle boots). This story served as a metaphor. Being on autopilot, just going through the motions, is a form of stagnation. It’s only when something snaps you out of it that you realize how disengaged you’ve become. This story then shifted the conversation to how bad swamps can smell, which led to the analogy of “stinking like swamp” – when you’re in it for long enough, you normalize the smell (the stagnation), but to the outside world, or upon returning to a “cleaner” environment, the stink and staleness is obvious.
4. Busy vs. Productive – Are You Moving or Just Spinning Wheels?
Chris Lee hit on a critical point: the difference between being busy and being productive. Many comfort themselves with a packed schedule, but as Chris asked, “Where are you actually moving the needle?” We went on to describe the “hamster wheel” of some careers where effort doesn’t always equate to progress or fulfillment. The key is to identify tasks that are truly meaningful and eliminate or outsource the “busywork” that just creates noise.
5. Identifying Stagnation – Internal Drivers & External Factors
I listed several types of stagnation (personal, professional, creative, relational, societal/intellectual) and their signs (subtle: boredom, mild dissatisfaction; versus the obvious: no new skills, recurring problems, unachieved goals). We also touched on internal drivers like fear (of failure, change, or even success/imposter syndrome), lack of clarity/purpose, burnout, past trauma, perfectionism, and fixed mindsets. External factors like unsupportive environments, societal pressures, lack of opportunity, or information overload also play a huge role.
6. Actionable Steps to Break Free:
Stillness & Reflection – Sean championed the power of intentional stillness and reflection to find clarity and purpose. My daily “check-in” with myself each morning aims for this.
Time Audit & The Ouroboros – Chris shared his “time audit” tool – tracking how you actually spend your time to reveal true priorities. He then couples this with the Ouroboros philosophy: devouring parts of yourself (habits, tasks) that no longer serve you to make space for growth.
Calendar Your Priorities – Sean’s practice of rating daily hydration, sleep, nutrition, and stillness helps ensure his calendar reflects his true priorities, guiding him towards fulfillment.
Embrace Discomfort & “Do Something Scary” – Sean shared being asked, “What are you doing this year that scares you?” A great question. Intentionally choosing challenges that push you out of your comfort zone, like Chris Lee’s “Misogi” mention (one hugely impactful event per year), is a powerful antidote to stagnation.
The Power of Village/Community – Surrounding yourself with people who are also striving, growing, and challenging themselves (as Sean noted) creates a supportive tide that can pull you out of stagnant waters.
7. Man is Both Marble and Sculptor (But Needs to See Other Statues)
Sean Menezes beautifully stated, “Man is both the marble and the sculptor.” We all have the power to shape ourselves. I added the nuance that to become a great sculptor, you must study great art. It’s wise to start looking to see what’s possible, to be inspired by others who have carved their own paths, to then inform how we shape our own “statue.”
Final Thought: Stagnation is a Choice, But So Is Flow
Stagnation, while influenced by many factors, often becomes a passive acceptance of the status quo. It’s being overly comfortable with your own swamp stink. Breaking free requires conscious effort: the courage to self-reflect honestly, the discipline to implement new routines, the willingness to embrace discomfort, and the wisdom to seek out supportive communities and fresh perspectives. It’s about choosing to be the flowing river, not the murky foul water. Actively filtering out what no longer serves you and continuously seeking the fresh currents of growth and purpose.
What waters are you navigating today?
Listen to the full “Stagnation” discussion here: Stagnation
Keep flowing,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
