I’ve Looked at Every Pedro Pascal Photo and I’m Still in a Rut

On creative ruts, soft landings, and the art of the gentle comeback.

Hi soul friend.

You know you’re in a creative rut when you listen to a 44-minute podcast about getting out of a rut before even getting out of bed… then scroll for hours, numb-thumbed, before finally peeling yourself off the sheets. Have I seen every photo of Pedro Pascal in Cannes? Possibly.

And honestly, I don’t see how that’s any of your business.

I’ve been here before.
This fog, this friction, this familiar ache of stuckness—it’s not new. If anything, there’s something almost comforting about the repeat visit. But I’m starting to see that these ruts have more to say. They’re not detours. They’re check-ins.

Still, I’ve learned: you don’t have to claw your way out of a rut. Sometimes, the first step is letting yourself wallow a little. Feel the heaviness. Stay in bed. Cry in the shower. Watch the Pedro edits. Let it wash through you instead of pretending you’re above it.

Because here’s the trap I’ve fallen into over and over:
I become addicted to the idea of a comeback.
Like I need to stage a dramatic return to myself—new routine, new mindset, new morning playlist.

But that’s just feeding the same all-or-nothing story.
The real work? The real freedom?

It’s this:
Consistency isn’t about never falling.
It’s the quiet, steady art of patching the gaps—between your downward spirals and your upward swings—until the comebacks don’t feel like resurrections.
Just gentle lifts back to your feet.

Here’s a three-step rhythm I’m moving through right now, inspired by a beautiful episode of the Soul Gum Podcast called “A 3-Step Roadmap Out of Your Rut.”

Step 1: Name the story

Right now, I’m in a state of functional freeze.
It’s when your body keeps moving—checking boxes, responding to texts—but your spirit is stalled out. It’s not full shutdown, it’s slow suffocation.

So I pause.
I ask: What is actually happening?
Not what my fear says. Not what my shame says.
Just the facts.

I’m recovering from being sick.
I’m burnt out.
I’m adjusting to the fact that I don’t want to operate at 150% anymore.

Step 2: Make Your Friction List

These are the parts of my life where the rub is loudest. Where something simple is creating a block that makes everything else feel harder.

1. Health + Self-Trust

Being sick knocked me off rhythm. Every little cough or ache makes me spiral into thoughts of “I’m falling behind.” But behind what?

→ Action: Spend 10 minutes every morning checking in with my body. Stretch. Journal. Lay still. Listen.

2. Creative Guilt

The longer I don’t create, the heavier it feels to return. But shame is not a muse. What I really crave isn’t output—it’s connection.

→ Action: Show up once a week. One post. One voice note. One little seed of expression.

3. Clothes + Walking Confidence

This one surprised me. But leaving the house feels hard when I don’t feel good in my clothes. I’ve been working for years on curating a wardrobe that flatters me, fits me, and makes me feel strong.
Right now, just having one or two walking outfits I love would shift everything.

→ Action: Put together 2 outfits I feel confident in. Keep them on deck for walks, errands, and reentry into the world.

Step 3: Give Yourself Grace

The hardest part.
Because grace is an action.
It’s not indulgent. It’s reparative.

Today, I showed up to a Freedom Call even though I didn’t feel “ready.”
And I’m so glad I did.
I said what needed to be said. I didn’t shrink. And when George said, “when we’re in a collective space, the healing becomes collective too,” something in me softened. The heaviness became manageable.
And I remembered: I don’t have to do this alone.

So if you're in the fog, too—feeling stuck, uninspired, or a little emotionally grimy—this is your permission slip to begin again, not with a bang, but with a breath.

No comeback required.
Just one small, loving step forward.

And if you need any Pedro Pascal photo dumps to soothe your soul along the way… you know where to find me.

Love you,
Asa

---