Although I typically have a few topics in mind that I can write about, sometimes I get to a point where I feel stuck.
That’s what I felt when I sat down to write this post.
Having Different Things on Your Mind
If you’re one of my clients, you’ll know that I using some of my vacation time to do some repairs and renovations around my house.
Yay vacation!!
So, for this last week, the main things on my mind are related to painting, how to use a drill again, and how to avoid multiple visits to the hardware store on the same day.
There were also many times this week where you could find me just standing and staring at the task in front of me – either having no clue of what to do next or having a million ideas of what to do next, yet mentally paralyzed because I have no idea what to choose or where to start.
And so, like many times this past week, I feel stuck as I sit down to write this week’s post.
Feeling Stuck is Normal
But as I think about it a little more, feeling stuck – feeling like you’re not making progress on something, not sure what to do next, or feeling like nothing’s working – is a normal part of life.
It happens to all of us.
We can get stuck in our jobs, relationships, and passions. Essentially, you can feel stuck in any part of your Promise Wheel.
Athletes feel stuck in their sport whenever they go through a “slump.”
Parents sometimes feel stuck in their role as parents, exhausted with all the different duties they juggle at any given time.
Spouses and partners can feel stuck in their relationships, wondering where the spark has gone.
And employees can feel stuck in their jobs, bored and disappointed in their roles, and wondering if there’s something better.
Getting Unstuck
As I think about some solutions to feeling stuck, I break them down into two categories:
Cognitions – how can you view your situation differently?
Behaviours – what can you do to get unstuck?
Concerning your cognitions, one thing you could do is to reflect on the areas of your life where you are not stuck. Sometimes, it’s helpful to recognize that you might feel stuck in just one or two areas of your life, but you are likely making changes and improvements in other areas.
One solution for your behaviors is to focus on another part of your life – an area that you might be neglecting (e.g., physical health, hobbies, spiritual practices) – and put energy toward adjusting that part of your life. When you focus on another area of your Wheel, it can trigger movement in the part of life where you’re feeling stuck.
Summary
When you’re stuck, it means that you were moving, progressing, or just in motion at one point. But then something, or a series of things, happened, and you’re not in action anymore.
If you were to plot your life on a graph, you would see many periods where things were “up” and many periods when things were “down.” Additionally, there are going to be many periods when things just plateau. These plateau periods often represent a feeling of ‘stuckness.’
And sometimes, those plateau periods might signal that you need to focus on another area of your life (or several areas) to help get you back into a state of balance.
I hope this post gives you some ideas on how to get unstuck and how you can manage it differently.
Richard
If you enjoyed this post, then pick up my new book, The Promise Wheel: Psychology For Growth and a Balanced Life. I provide dozens of strategies and insights on how to improve your health, relationships, and career so that you can achieve personal balance, feel less stressed, and have fun again.