Feeling Stuck: How to Overcome the Rut and Move Forward
It doesn’t always have to be overwhelming, frustrating and debilitating as long as you are aware of life’s ebbs and flow.
At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced that feeling of being stuck. It’s that moment when you feel like you’re not making progress or moving forward towards your goals. You may feel like you’re in a rut, and no matter what you do, you can’t seem to break out of it. However, there are ways to overcome this feeling and get back on track.
Identify the Root Cause
The first step to overcoming feeling stuck is to identify the root cause.
What is causing you to feel this way? Why do you feel guilty about not being able to do anything and yet feel so lazy at the same time?
It could be a lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed, or even fear. At least for me, it always cycles back to being hyper productive and driven to drastically feeling burnt out and letting go again.
Other times, the tasks seem endless or I can’t find myself to get out of my head and feeling like I am not capable of competing with the rest of the world.
Take some time to reflect and identify what is holding you back. Once you have identified the root cause, you can start to address it and find a solution.
Celebrate Your Small Wins
Setting realistic goals is key to overcoming feeling stuck. Often, we set goals that are too big or too vague, which can make it difficult to make progress.
Personally, this is my biggest pitfall. I have a lot of interests, hobbies, and business ventures I want to explore. But, social media makes me realize how small I am and how many competent people are in this world.
I find myself constantly falling into patterns of comparing myself to everyone else and feeling like no matter how much I try, I will never be good enough to compete. But I have to constantly tame my negative inner critic.
A reminder to myself and to others: Channel your energy positively. Set small, achievable goals that will help you make progress towards your larger goals instead. Celebrate your small wins, and use them as motivation to keep going.
Just did it
Nike should change their slogan to “Just did it!”
Who knew these three words could have so much oomph and instill so uch confidence!
Taking action is essential to achieve anything in life. It’s easy to get caught up in planning and overthinking, but action is what will help you make progress.
It is easy to get excited about the preparation and planning stages and lose steam. At least for me it is.
Start with small steps, and don’t worry about making mistakes. The important thing is that you’re moving forward.
Strive for progress, not perfection.
Do Something Different
Trying something new can be a great way to break out of a rut. It could be something as simple as trying a new hobby or taking a different route to work.
I love deals and bargains and love going to stores like Marshalls or Target. Instead of going to the same one every time, I look for these stores in different cities when I’m looking to venture out. Nothing is as exciting as exploring a new part of town and finding a killer deal on a chair I’ve been wanting.
Getting out of your comfort zone can help you gain a new perspective and inspire you to try new things.
Share your feelings
Getting support from others can be incredibly helpful when you’re feeling stuck. Friends, family, coworkers, therapists, boyfriend, husband, whoever you trust!
Nothing brings me more happiness and motivation when I talk to someone who can empathize with what I am going through. Sometimes, all you need is just someone to talk to and sound board off of.
Own it!
Take ownership and take control. Understanding that this is just another battle in the endless war of this cycle of life helps us shift our perspective and realize this opportunity for growth.
This is only presenting you with another opportunity to prove to yourself how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown.
Compare yourself to your past self and be proud of the steps you’ve constantly taken and how strong you’ve become.
Final Thoughts
Feeling stuck is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to hold you back.
By identifying the root cause, setting realistic goals, taking action, trying something new, and getting support, you can overcome feeling stuck and move forward towards success. Remember, progress takes time, so be patient with yourself and keep pushing forward.
This post has been written with the help of chatgpt.
