There are many factors that contribute to us feeling stuck. When we feel stuck, we begin to worry about not being able to move forward, both personally and professionally. This affects our ability to think. Clearly, we lose confidence in our capabilities, and it can be a while before we get back to feeling inspired and energetic.
If you are feeling stuck and not sure about what direction to take in your life, these 10 strategies will help you keep moving forward and get your confidence back so that you can make bold moves both personally and professionally.
1. Give yourself a moment to just breathe
This may seem like a simple exercise, but there is so much power in allowing yourself to breathe. According to the University of Michigan, “deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body; this is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax”.
Practise just taking 5 minutes to just breathe. Be still and relax. Listen to what is around you and allow yourself to be present and in the moment.
2. Get real with why you feel stuck
It is said that we are the masters of our minds and thoughts. When we feel stuck, is it because we tell ourselves that we are stuck? Are we truly at a crossroad? When we think that we are stuck, then we will behave that way, and it can leave us feeling sad and low. Simply put, our thoughts create our situation. In the same way, we think that we are stuck, we can think that we are unstuck. Practice letting our minds think positive thoughts and allowing ourselves to be motivated and inspired.
3. Visual the end result; what do you want to achieve
What does unstuck look like for us? How would it make us feel? These are the questions we can ask ourselves so that you can start feeling optimistic. That plan to open your own business or pay off your credit card debt. Put it on your vision board and place it on your wall so that you are reminded of that vision every day. See yourself feeling great after you have paid your credit card debt in full or that you opened your business and your customers are raving about your service.
Also Read: 4 Proven Strategies for Overcoming Distraction
4. Make a plan to achieve those goals
Have you ever heard about SMART goals.? We all want to achieve success and be happy in our lives, but have we really sat down and gotten specific about what exactly those goals are.? Where do we see ourselves in the next 12 months? When we set goals, we are challenging ourselves to meet a specific target at a specific time.
Be sure to make your goals SMART. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
5. Evaluate what worked in the past and what did not
In order for us to move forward, we should attempt not to repeat our mistakes. If our habits are keeping us from pivoting, then we will need to evaluate them and consider creating new habits. Review those habits that keep us stuck in our relationships, in our careers, and in our lives.
Ask ourselves, is this a good habit or a bad habit? Is scrolling through Social Media every day for 4 hours, helping me move forward. Is waking up at 10 am and not getting out of bed until 11 am a habit I want to continue with? Or would I accomplish more if I only woke up 2 hours earlier each morning? Evaluating what worked for us is a great way to decide on how we proceed moving forward.
6. Be gentle with yourself
You made the commitment to move forward, but it wouldn’t happen just like that. It will take time. Go easy on yourself. Don’t be too hard, or you will get frustrated that it’s taking time to manifest. With each step you take, you will notice the successes when they happen. When you’re gentle with yourself, you are better able to determine what course of action you should take in the event that you need to make a shift. You will then know what you are truly great at and what things you might need expert help with.
Also Read: 4 Strategies on How to Avoid Failure and Achieve Success
7. Consult a coach or counselor
When you’re trying to make major decisions about your future or you are feeling discouraged, it’s never a good idea to go through those feelings alone. Hiring a coach or a counselor is a great option and can change your life forever. Coaches help you see things from a different perspective and will not shy away from asking you those powerful questions to get your mind going. Do your research and ensure that you are comfortable with the person you hired.
8. Make a gratitude list
Sometimes we need a gentle reminder that the possessions we have and the people that are in our lives are there for a reason and that without them, we may not have been in the position we are in today. Having a gratitude list will help us have a more contented mindset and will push us to get up and get going.
Also Read: Negative Thoughts and Their Impact on Your Communication Goals
9. Take action
This is probably the hardest part of the process. Actually, taking that first step, moving forward when you are feeling stuck, takes courage. However, this is the step that will truly make all the difference. Whether it’s making that phone call, or hiring a coach, handing in that resignation letter, whatever it may be for you.
10. Select the best tribe
You would want to ensure that the people you have around you are genuinely interested in your success. Whether it’s a friend to bounce ideas off or a next-door neighbor to cook your favorite meal, or that yoga class on Saturdays that allows you to get your mind right! Be selective and picky. Your future is dependent on your environment and the people you choose to have in it.
