When You Hit a Wall: What Your Mind and Body Might Be Trying to Tell You

A couple of weeks ago, I hit a wall.

There wasn’t a dramatic moment. There was just a very clear sense that something wasn’t right, and I realised that I couldn’t carry on in the way I had been.

I couldn’t even get out of bed.

And in that moment, I had a choice. Do what I’ve always done and push through, get up, carry on – or stop and actually listen.

This time, I listened.

Not because I had suddenly discovered something new, but because I recognised something familiar. All the things I’ve learned over the years about mindset, wellbeing and looking after ourselves.  I’d heard them, I understood them, I’d even shared them with others. But like many of us, I hadn’t fully applied them when it mattered most.

So instead ignoring it I allowed myself to stop.

What followed wasn’t a quick day of rest. It became two weeks of coming to a complete stop. Creating a space of quiet and calm which felt wonderful, yet very unfamiliar to me.

By creating that space it allowed things to start to become clearer.

One of the biggest realisations was how easy it is to keep going, even when something doesn’t feel right.

There is this unspoken expectation, especially as women in business, to keep things moving, to stay consistent, to be the one who shows up no matter what and it’s not always something we consciously choose. It’s just how we’ve learned to operate.

So we tell ourselves:

“I’ll deal with it later.”
“I just need to get through this week.”
“It’s not the right time to slow down.”

But the signals don’t go away. They sit there.

And if we don’t listen, they get louder.

Not to stop us completely, but to get our attention.

At the end of the 2 weeks, I hosted our regular WBN Online Networking and Guest Speaker session with a masterclass led by Jyotsna Hoffman, and it confirmed to me  what I was already beginning to notice.

In the session Jyotsna talked about overdelivering, something many of us will recognise. But it didn’t stop there. It went deeper into the habits we have formed and an opportunity to identify patterns that relate to how we value ourselves and how we charge for our work. The behaviours that have been shaped over years of experience, without us even realising.

What stood out for me once again is the role of our subconscious mind.

The internal dialogue that runs in the background. The messages we repeat to ourselves, often without questioning them. The way our thinking is shaped by past experiences and learned behaviours that feel so normal we don’t even notice them.

And how often that dialogue is negative or focused on what we don’t want.

It’s easy to dismiss this as something we already “know”, but knowing and applying are very different things. When we aren’t aware of those patterns, they continue to influence how we show up, how we make decisions, and how we treat ourselves.

That kind of work isn’t always comfortable. It requires honesty, reflection and a willingness to look at things differently. But it’s crucial when we know that it is time for change.

That same week I had a call with our April speaker and that added even more context to this subject.

Speaking with Amanda Whitehead, a gut health coach, highlighted another element to this. The connection between our minds and our body. How the impact of what goes on in our minds will start showing up in our body and our general health and wellbeing.

Fatigue, low energy, feeling overwhelmed or not quite like ourselves  these are signals rather than problems to push through.

And yet, it’s very easy to explain them away.

To attribute them to circumstances, to time of year, to life stage. All of which may be true, but can also become reasons to keep going rather than pause and explore what’s really happening within.

What also became really clearer for me is that support isn’t always about doing more.

It’s not always about adding another habit, another routine, or another solution.

Sometimes, it’s about recognising what’s missing.

Rest.

Quiet.

Space to think.

Time.

 

Things that are often overlooked because they don’t feel “productive”, yet are essential for clarity and wellbeing.

It also raises a bigger question.

When do we actually stop.

Not slow down slightly, not switch off for an hour, but genuinely stop long enough to check in with ourselves.

For many, that only happens when something forces it. When we’re unwell, exhausted, or no longer able to keep going at the same pace.

But what if it didn’t have to get to that point.

What if creating space became part of how we work and live, rather than something we only allow when there’s no other option.

That might look different for everyone. It could be time away from the usual routine, moments of quiet during the day, time spent outside, or simply giving ourselves permission to pause without feeling guilty (and that is a biggy!).

I can honestly say that when I made the decision to extend my break to two weeks it was done from a place of complete clarity and no guilt was felt whatsoever!  It felt very empowering!

I really think we need to become so much more aware of the way we speak to ourselves.

Because if we were to say those same things out loud to someone else, I know we would choose our words very differently.

The time of year I believe plays its part too, it certainly affects me.

The winter months can feel heavy. Shorter days, less light, colder weather. It can impact energy levels, motivation and overall wellbeing more than we sometimes acknowledge. I know that is certainly the case for me.

As the seasons begin to shift and lighter days return, we naturally start to feel a lift. We have more energy and a new sense of what is possible.  

But that doesn’t mean all that has happened should be ignored.

Those experiences, those feelings, those moments of struggle – they’re all part of the bigger picture. And they can hold so much value if we take the time to reflect on them.

None of this is new.

Most of it is something we’ve heard before, in one way or another.

But there’s a difference between hearing something and allowing it to change how we live and work.

Often it is at the point where we can’t carry on that we finally stop and listen.

 

If there’s one thing I want you to take from this, it’s not that everything needs to change overnight.

• It’s simply an opportunity to take notice.
• To become more aware of what’s going on, both mentally and physically for you right now.
• To question the patterns that feel automatic are they serving you? Is it time for change.
• To create small moments of quiet and space so you can gain clarity.

 

Because that awareness is where things can begin to shift.

And perhaps most importantly, to recognise that you don’t have to have everything figured out.

No one does.

Not even those who appear to.

I know I don’t have it all worked out, but I’m making changes and learning all the time. And if any of this has resonated with you, I’d always be happy to have a conversation.