If you continue to carry on with your life, going through the day-to-day motions and thinking, “there has to be something more,” then you’re likely stuck and wondering how to get unstuck.
Don’t worry. You’re far from alone. Honestly. The vast majority of us would rather just carry on with daily drudgery than enact change. Because, let’s face it, change is scary.
It’s through change though that we’re able to start meeting our potential. So before we launch into ways to get unstuck, it’s important to first address the behaviors and beliefs that have immersed you in wet cement.
What Is Keeping You Stuck
There will always be situations over which you have no control. Yet it might surprise you to recognize how often you victimize yourself through your thinking and actions (or lack thereof). And it is these that are getting you stuck.
Do any of the following apply to you?
- Feeling you never have enough
- Buying into self-doubt and negative thoughts
- Believing in limitations
- Becoming passive as a result of perceived loss of control
- Ignoring problems in hopes they’ll solve themselves
- Never planning or acting on an idea
- Constantly undermining your abilities
- Giving up because of bad results
- Ceasing to try
- Blaming a lack of resources
- Not taking responsibility
- Thinking only about the future or the past – never present
- Fearing failure
- Comparing yourself unfavorably to others
- Waiting for the “starting bell”
It’s obviously an extensive list. Sadly, it’s not even all-inclusive. So if you possess any of those thoughts or behaviors, try not to judge or criticize yourself. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t share at least one of them.
Instead, see it merely an exercise in self-study so you can determine which (and how many) of them might be holding you back. From there, you can begin to look at some of the following options for getting unstuck.
1. Explore Your Life Purpose
This sounds pretty heady. But it’s really just an opportunity to evaluate what brings you joy and makes you feel alive. This could be in your job, your personal life, your life goals, whatever.
It’s possible that you’ve never done this before. On the other hand, maybe you’ve subscribed to a life purpose that no longer inspires you. It’s important to understand that you’re not relegated to always finding satisfaction with the same things and activities throughout your entire life.
Whether we like it or not, things are always changing.
So think about what makes you happy now. What are your favorite things to do? What inspires you? When do you feel good about yourself? In what areas do you excel?
2. Trust Your Intuition
How often do you have a “feeling” about something, talk yourself out of it, and then later regret it? There’s something to be said for following your intuition.
For example, if you’ve ever bought a house, you may have found yourself wondering why the one that was perfect on paper didn’t seem as ideal as the other one that just gave you a certain feeling. You might live in that very house today.
When you stop trusting your instincts and insist upon logic, you’re bound to get stuck. Especially if you shift into overthinking which can easily paralyze you with indecision. So take your cues from that inner voice, deep within, that has only your best interests at heart.
3. Practice Optimism
There’s nothing like a long series of disappointments to leave you feeling hopeless and pessimistic. This is the perfect recipe for putting up a protective barrier against optimism so as to shield yourself from disappointment.
Unfortunately, pessimism won’t get you far. You’re likely to get stuck in the role of victim – like Eeyore. This isn’t to say you need to adopt some cock-eyed optimism like Tigger though. There is a balance.
Engaging in a regular practice like meditation, reading inspirational material, and/or prayer can move you into a more optimistic mindset.
4. Let Go of Perfectionism
If your experience has taught you that everything must be done 100% perfectly or not at all, you’re setting yourself up for paralyzing anxiety.
Try to adopt a mindset that falls more in line with, “Doing the best I can do is perfect – regardless of the outcome.” This simple action of reframing your thoughts to lower the bar of perfection will liberate you.
5. Take Constructive Action
Think about the word emotion. It has the word “motion” embedded right in it. And for good reason. The purpose of emotion is to move us to take action. Yet when we get stuck, emotions get held within. Oftentimes, passive or aggressive behavior, addiction, or even pain and ailments are trapped emotions attempting to express themselves.
By engaging in mindful and constructive action – such as calmly sharing a feeling, taking a walk, practicing yoga, reassuring yourself that you’re safe, or enjoying a nourishing meal – you can release those emotions that are making you feel stuck.
6. Talk to Someone
Of course, the above suggestions may sound easy enough. But they take work. Even if you’re well aware of your thought patterns and behaviors, it can be difficult to move out of them effectively without the support of a friend, family member, life coach, or mental health professional.
There is absolutely no shame in this. The act of asking for help can be one of the biggest steps in getting unstuck.
Looking for How to Get Unstuck in Your Own Life?
Once you recognize that you’re stuck, you’re already on the path toward freeing yourself. We can help you move further along that path.
Contact us today to discuss the methods and modalities we offer to teach you how to get unstuck in your own thoughts and behaviors. We can bring these services to you in person, at your place of business, or online.
Isn’t it time to free yourself?
