The doldrums is a sailor’s term for when they are at sea caught in calm, monotonous, windless weather.
It’s a term that I’ve learned can also apply to times in your life, and certainly has in mine.
The doldrums generally follow exciting times, times of tremendous growth and commitment to your goals. After having achieved some success, things begin to taper off. This is completely normal and earned. However, it can turn into a negative and a feeling of being trapped by what it is that once before was so exciting and awesome.
When I look back at my life and break it apart into chapters, I can see the cycle of doldrums appear after those explosive growth phases.
The sad thing is, I can see that the period of doldrums always lasted many times longer than the fun exciting part.
Eventually this became untenable and I was forced into change. The change was usually motivated by a need to generate money, or my unhappiness was so severe I had no other choice.
The more success I had the longer the period of doldrums became, because the success allowed it. My most recent period of the doldrums lasted over 5 years.
If I could do things again, I would move on from the doldrums far quicker, but I didn’t even realize I was caught in them.
Going forward the plan is to recognize the cycle and see the doldrums far earlier and save myself years of feeling unsatisfied and unhappy.
I’ve already had 5 distinct Acts in my life, so going forward I know there will be others. Doldrums are part of each act. When I recognize them happening, I can make change either by “course correction” back into more exciting waters, or leaving the water completely and star the process of exploring “What’s Next?” far earlier than I had in the past.
This cycle is part of 21st century life. Trying to live by old 20th century rules kept me in the doldrums far longer than I should. All of us will live multiple Act lives and should expect to reinvent ourselves over and over.
When you reflect on your own life, at what times were you caught in the doldrums and how long did you stay there before you took on change?
