We all feel stuck at one time or another–in a bad relationship, in the wrong job, in business, or just generally in life. Whatever the situation, feeling stuck doesn’t make us feel good about ourselves. We may lose track of it when we don’t feel good about ourselves, but we always have choices. We have the choice to change things and do something about whatever isn’t working.
Here are some thoughts to help you through the most frequently experienced forms of feeling stuck:
1. When you’re stuck in your thinking . . .
Treat it as a sign that it’s time to make a significant change. Growth and change can be painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck.
2. When you’re stuck in your skills . . .
It’s never too late to update and upgrade your knowledge and skills. And there’s no better way to take a proactive approach to self-advancement. Invest in yourself and look for opportunities for development, personally and professionally. Do everything you can to learn, grow, and expand–there’s always something new to learn.
3. When you’re stuck thinking things should be easier . . .
We all want life, success, and good relationships to come easily–even though we know that’s almost never the case. Instead of wondering why things come with difficulty, focus on the lessons you can learn along the way. Nothing worthwhile comes without a struggle, and there’s much more wisdom to be gained in adversity than in ease.
4. When you’re stuck in your actions . . .
Action by its definition is movement and being stuck is the lack of movement, so it’s more accurate to say you’re stuck in inaction. Procrastination and passivity never work. Get up and do something–even the smallest action leads to progress.
5. When you’re stuck outside your comfort zone . . .
When feel yourself moving out of your comfort zone, you’ll gain the most if you can learn to stay at the edge between comfort and discomfort until you get past what you are going through. As I tell my clients, at the edge of your discomfort zone you will find your greatness. Be patient with yourself and remember that every failure has a lesson and every mistake is a teaching moment.
6. When you’re stuck relying on others for success . . .
Stop. We rely on others for many things, but relying on others to make you successful is a complete waste of time. The only person who can make you successful is you. Even when we benefit from the good will of others, the action–and the achievement–has to start with us.
7. When you’re stuck making excuses . . .
Excuses change nothing. When you’re good at making excuses, it’s hard to excel at anything else. Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. No more excuses–it’s time to change, so remember how capable you are.
8. When you’re stuck in fear . . .
Fear can be good when it keeps you alert as you’re walking past an alley at night or prompts you to check your locks before bed. But it can be destructive when it stands between you and your goals. Fear defeats more people than anything else. Don’t let it keep you from what you want or use it as an excuse to come to a standstill. Instead, make it an impetus to step up and strike.
9. When you’re stuck in what others think of you . . .
You’re not in charge of what anyone else says or how they feel about your choices. If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone else, you’re losing the fight. Your success doesn’t lie in what others think of you; it exists within you, in what you think about yourself. Find yourself, create your own life and do everything you can to live it fully.
10. When you’re stuck in the past . . .
It’s impossible to have a good day today if you’re still thinking and worrying about yesterday. Whatever you’ve encountered or experienced in the past doesn’t matter. Learn from it and move on–it’s a new day.
The choice between remaining stuck or moving forward will always be yours. Feeling stuck is a mindset that can prevent you from taking action and paralyze you from moving forward. Switch it up and choose yourself by supporting yourself in taking small steps toward what you want to achieve. .