The Tower Block: Navigating Your Mental and Emotional State

Have you ever experienced days where you feel on top of the world—energised, motivated, and ready to tackle anything—and then, seemingly out of nowhere, you find yourself in a slump where even the smallest tasks feel overwhelming? This fluctuating experience is something we all go through, and it’s at the heart of the Tower Block concept in Mind Works with Craig.

The Tower Block is a metaphor I use to describe the levels of our mental and emotional states. It helps us understand how we move up and down depending on our energy, focus, health, and the stress in our lives. Recognising where you are on the Tower Block at any given moment is key to managing your emotions, enhancing your performance, and achieving your goals.

What is the Tower Block?

Imagine your mental and emotional state as a tall tower, with different levels representing how well you’re functioning and feeling:

• Level 10 – The Penthouse: This is where you feel your best—energised, motivated, clear-headed, and capable of tackling anything life throws at you. On these days, tasks seem easy, challenges feel exciting, and you’re fully engaged with life.

• Levels 7-9: These are your good days. You feel well, focused, and driven. On these days, you can really push toward your goals. Challenges feel manageable, and you have the energy to make meaningful progress in your life. Whether it’s work, relationships, or personal projects, everything flows more easily.

• Level 6 – The Comfort Zone: This is where you feel stable and balanced—things are okay.  You’re functioning well. From here, you have the capacity to push ahead and stretch yourself when needed. It’s a good place to be when you want to start making changes, as you have a solid foundation to build upon.

• Level 5: This is where things start to feel a bit more challenging. You might be distracted or feel some stress, and tasks that usually feel easy now require more effort. It’s a transitional state where you still have control but may need to refocus your energy and attention to prevent sliding further down.

• Levels 4-1: These are the days when stress, anxiety, and self-doubt become more prominent. You feel stuck, frustrated, and overwhelmed, and your ability to take action is diminished. This is where protection mechanisms like avoidance, overworking, or procrastination kick in as your mind tries to shield you from discomfort.

• Level -1 – The Basement: This is the lowest point, where everything feels like a struggle. You’re in survival mode, drained of energy, and emotionally shut down. Tasks that were once simple now feel impossible. This is where you rely heavily on protection mechanisms, seeking distractions or ways to numb yourself from emotional pain.

Moving Up and Down the Tower Block

We don’t stay at one level of the Tower Block for long. In fact, we move up and down hourly depending on our energy levels, concentration, enthusiasm, health, and the stressors in our lives. It’s natural for our mental and emotional state to fluctuate throughout the day, and being aware of this movement is crucial for managing it.

For example, you might start your day at Level 7, feeling great after a good night’s sleep, but by mid-afternoon, stress from work or distractions may pull you down to Level 5. By recognising this shift, you can take steps to recharge, refocus, and move back up the Tower Block rather than staying stuck at a lower level.

The goal isn’t to stay in the Penthouse (Level 10) all the time—life doesn’t work that way. The aim is to understand where you are and take purposeful action to move upward when you’re struggling or feeling stuck.

Tools for Moving Up the Tower Block

To help you climb the Tower Block and stay at the higher levels, we use several key tools:

• Mental Strength: Developing mental strength is fundamental to understanding and managing your position on the Tower Block. It helps you observe your current state clearly, take responsibility, and make conscious choices that keep you moving upward.

• Parts of Self: Our internal dialogue often reflects different parts of ourselves that can be in conflict—logical versus emotional, future self versus current self. By understanding and aligning these parts, you can reduce the inner conflict that keeps you stuck on lower levels.

• Gears of Motivation: As you move up and down the Tower Block, your motivation shifts. Understanding how to switch between different “gears” of motivation helps you adapt to your current state and push forward even when things feel tough.

• Pillars of Health: Your physical and mental health play a huge role in where you land on the Tower Block. Strengthening the Pillars of Health (mental, physical, emotional, and environmental well-being) gives you the resilience to stay at the higher levels.

Protection Mechanisms at the Lower Levels

When you find yourself in the lower levels of the Tower Block, you’re more likely to rely on protection mechanisms—behaviours that temporarily shield you from discomfort but ultimately keep you stuck. These can include:

• Avoidance: Ignoring problems or procrastinating instead of facing challenges head-on.
• Overworking: Immersing yourself in work to distract from emotional issues.
• Numbing Behaviours: Using food, alcohol, or distractions like social media to avoid confronting difficult emotions.
• Anxiety: Constant worrying about the future instead of taking action in the present.

Recognising these behaviours is the first step to overcoming them. Once you understand the patterns that are keeping you stuck, you can start making conscious decisions to break free and move upward.

Up Next: The Pillars of Health

In order to move up and down the Tower Block effectively and stay at the higher levels, you need a strong foundation. That foundation comes from the Pillars of Health—four key areas that support your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. These pillars are essential to building resilience and maintaining balance in your life.

Curious to learn more? Explore how the Pillars of Health can provide the stability you need for lasting change.