The power of a breakdown

Dear Leader,

If you’re experiencing the breakdown of something you’ve held close, I humbly offer you this practice.

First, I give credit to the sources of inspiration for this practice: my teacher, Tracy Goss, and Vedic philosophy’s concept of “three fundamental energies.”

Breakdowns are a natural and normal part of the cycle of life. They can occur by 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, and they can occur by 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦. In either case, you, as a leader, can leverage the breakdown to forward the future you’re committed to building.

I learned from Tracy Goss that there is power in 𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 to “declare a breakdown,” as a way to stop the action/pattern, and step into a pause where you can clarify and recommit to creating the future you want to bring into existence.

For example, you might declare a breakdown in a conversation, in a relationship, or in a particular planned approach. A breakdown doesn’t necessarily equal failure, nor does it require blame; a breakdown is merely an opportunity to intentionally leverage a disruption as a lever for creating breakthroughs.

This ties to the concept of Vedic philosophy’s “three fundamental energies,” which cycle together as a powerful process of regeneration.

1️⃣ 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 is the energy of new beginnings, building, and growth.
2️⃣ 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 is the energy of sustainability, supporting dynamic balance and relationships.
3️⃣ 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 brings about closure, endings, and transformation to open opportunity for renewal.

Breakdowns provide us with important opportunities to 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮.

⭐ Staying in creation energy for too long without supporting sustainability can cause the breakdown of burnout.
⭐ Staying in maintenance energy for too many elements can cause the breakdown of overwhelm.
⭐ Resisting destruction energy may inadvertently halt the emergence of the next iteration or idea.

For the breakdown you’re navigating, I invite you to:

1️⃣ Declare the breakdown. Where can you use your spoken word to identify the specific breakdown? Speak it to yourself first and then consider where you might speak it to others as a way to align on a shared experience that a pause is needed.

2️⃣ Identify which of the 3 energies you’re in. Is it creation, maintenance, or destruction? Honor how it’s served you, and open the possibility that the breakdown now calls for a shift.

3️⃣ Choose the energy you want to step into to forward the future you desire. Come back to what matters most in this endeavor. You might revisit your commitments, your purpose, your vows, and/or your values. Which energy does this future now require of you?

Breakdowns are always an opening to a breakthrough if we allow ourselves the choice to see them as such.