Getting Unstuck
Feeling stuck is not a good feeling! I’ve been there a couple of times in my life. Just last year, I felt like I was in a place where I didn’t want to be and didn’t know how to change it. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and cause things to spiral.
So how do you get out of this rut?
Here is a three-step process to get you moving in the right direction:
Gain clarity!
What is the root cause? This takes some reflection and going deep. This may be identifying the surface-level reasons and then going beyond that.
What do you want? Identify specifically where you want to be and what you want to achieve. Picture yourself getting out of this and thriving. What does that look like?
How will you do it? Start to brainstorm ideas and then identify what your first step is. Don’t fall into the trap of delaying and waiting for the perfect plan. Or waiting for yourself to feel ready. Instead, develop a simple plan with a clear first step.
2. Make a mindset shift. Getting unstuck requires you to change your mindset. This may be changing a belief or shifting your perspective on something. The shift may be helping you to become more confident, growth-minded, grateful, or optimistic. Here is the thing: you don’t just make this shift one time. This is an ongoing process of noticing and reframing your thoughts when the old ones resurface.
3. Take action. Whatever you identified as that first step, start taking action on it. Then, continue by taking consistent action. It will be the consistency that will take you to where you want to go. As you take action, you will see what is working and what is not. Be willing to adjust your strategy and actions accordingly. When setbacks arise, see what the opportunity is and be resilient.
Two other keys to keep in mind.
*You don’t have to do this alone. Make sure that you are surrounding yourself with the right people and seek support from others. Be around people who lift you up and who are achieving the types of things that you want to achieve. Ask questions and learn from what they have done. It may also be seeking support from a therapist if it is a mental health issue. Or it may be from a coach if it is more about performance.
*Take care of your health. When people feel stuck, they can ignore their health and well-being. During this time, it is critical to make sure you are taking care of yourself. Be aware of your physical activity, nutrition, and sleep, and make changes to these as necessary.
When you are in the moments of feeling stuck, it can feel hopeless. I can assure you that it is not. These moments and times will pass. Utilizing the steps and keys above will help you to get unstuck and have the life that you deserve!
